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A cat in hell's chance you weren't impressed

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AVR Dance latest extravaganza focused this time on a feline tale that wowed audiences at Blackpool’s Layton Institute.

Two days and four performances over the second weekend of July saw the troupe deliver a stunning interpretation of Cats. This sung-through musical, composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on the 1939 poetry collection Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot, tells the story of a tribe of cats, known as the Jellicles. Unlike the disappointing film adaptation of 2019, focus here was only on vibrant costumes, first-rate choreography and incredible vocals, with Tia Desai’s and Islay Woolfenden’s respective renditions of ‘Memory’ drawing rapturous applauds from thrilled audiences.

Arguably AVR’s most ambitious project to date, there was little to no spoken dialect in the, while the production itself did not have the standard beginning, middle and end, preferring instead to showcase an often haunting yet vibrant tale of the life of Jellicles. There was no pantomime dame or villainous character enticing audience participation in this one, not that the team required it. The dedication to the art was realised solely through visual performance.

Also well worth noting that some cast members as young as two-years-old on the stage. The baby kittens were well looked after by the older members of Amie Rutherford’s group and her dedicated staff team, as well as a number of parents in the roles of chaperones and face painters.

With one or two of the elder principles set for college in September, the future of AVR is very secure, with a wealth of nurtured talent learning the trade.

Far from resting during the school holidays, the group are taking on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Rehearsals spanned just two short weeks ahead of two performances on Saturday, 13 August.

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