Young Australian Broadway Chorus Cats production coming to St Kilda’s National Theatre
The film may have been a box office ‘cat-astrophe’, but the cast behind the upcoming St Kilda stage production of this Broadway classic say their production will have audiences positively purring.
Inner South
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Yallambie’s Tim Bland will take centre stage in the Young Australian Broadway Chorus production of Cats and he encourages audiences to go in with an open mind.
The fresh interpretation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical will take over St Kilda’s National Theatre for a limited season of 10 shows.
Bland will take on the role of Gus the Theatre Cat, in an interpretation inspired by the jazz age.
He urged audiences not to be dissuaded by the recent box office crash of the film adaptation of Cats.
“It shouldn’t hinder people’s perception, it’s great that musical theatre has come to the big screen, but Cats should be left as a theatre form,” Bland said.
The 17 year old is one of 90 young performers in the production and said audience can expect a brand new take on the classic show.
“It’s new yet still traditional, it’s a great introduction to theatre and people of all ages can enjoy it,” he said.
Director Robert Coates said he took design inspiration away from the traditional junkyard.
“We put it into a setting that evokes a faded opulence,” Mr Coates said.
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“We want to literally immerse the audience in the story, so we will not only be creating stunning original sets for the stage, but the experience will also extend into the auditorium.”
The National Theatre will be transformed into a crumbling English music hall during the great depression.
Cats will run at the National Theatre in St Kilda, January 17 to 25.
The Youth Australian Broadway have performed Les Miserables, Wicked and Spring Awakening at the National Theatre.
Tickets available from $33 at www.catsmusical.com.au.
courtney.beaumont@news.com.au