A significant Youth Week Community Event Grant from the Queensland Government has provided Redcliffe local Zahlee Brackstone the opportunity to step up as youth director of the young actors edition of CATS.
The shorter adaptation of the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber musical will be performed by Redcliffe Musical Theatre (RMT) Youth and ROAR Academy this month, with Zahlee at the helm, alongside her mentor, RMT president Madeleine Johns.
Zahlee said that the opportunity to lead the project during Youth Week was incredibly special to her.
”As an emerging director, opportunities like this are rare, and getting to share that experience with young performers who are just beginning their theatre journeys is something I’m really passionate about,” she said.
The production, designed for young performers, is set in a larger-than-life junkyard and follows the Jellicle Cats as they gather for their annual Jellicle Ball. Throughout the night, each cat shares their story with Old Deuteronomy, who must ultimately choose one to ascend to the Heaviside Layer.
Youth Week takes place from 12 to 18 April, and the holiday workshop is from 12 to 17 April, concluding with performances at Theatre 102 on the weekend of 18 and 19 April. The grant will help fund performance rights, venue, technical equipment, costume hire and marketing expenses.
Madeleine said she encouraged young performers aged 10 to 18 years to register and audition for a role in the production.
“A group of 25-30 young music theatre students and dancers from the Moreton Bay region will be able to be involved in the production of this classic show and we are sure that for many of them this opportunity will be life-changing,” she said.
Apart from being guided by Zahlee, the young CATS cast for the workshop performances will be headlined by Zola Bulan in the well-known role of Grizabella. Zola is currently completing a series of intensive performance workshops in the USA. At only 14 years of age, Zola is set to be an inspiration to the other aspiring performers.
“CATS is such an iconic musical and creating a space where young artists can learn, grow, and perform together, in such a short and intensive process is going to be truly magical!” Zahlee said.
Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for concessions, and $15 for children. Book your tickets here.
CATS (Young Actors Edition)
- Saturday, 18 April, 11am and 7pm; Sunday, 19 April, 11am and 6pm
- Theatre 102
- 102 Anzac Avenue, Redcliffe
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