These Wellingtonians took acting lessons from a ‘Cat’
Samuel Jones
On 15 January, 30 Wellington Drama and Music Fellows were afforded a truly remarkable opportunity. They had the chance to work closely with a cast member of the acclaimed production of Cats at Shanghai's Bund 31 Theatre.
The pupils viewed the opening sequence of the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Then Sam Brown, the actor who portrayed Munkustrap, imparted to the pupils, the same training and instruction that he and the company received before performing the play.
In the session, he provided invaluable tips and techniques on using body movement to convey greater emotions and convincingly inhabit the characters they play. The pupils were enthralled as Sam demonstrated the fluid, feline-inspired movements that are the hallmark of Cats' iconic choreography. They learned to put themselves in the mindset of a cat as they learned to stalk and slink about the stage. This immersive experience allowed the pupils to build confidence in their physical expressiveness and push the boundaries of their comfort zones.
Beyond the mastery of movement, Sam also emphasised the importance of embodying the characters' distinct personalities and emotional states. He encouraged the pupils to fully inhabit their roles, drawing from their own experiences to infuse their performances with authenticity and depth. This challenged the pupils to stretch their acting skills and apply newfound techniques to truly bring their characters to life.
The workshop was a unique opportunity for our young performers to learn directly from the masters of their craft in a professional theatre environment. More importantly, it was a chance for our Fellows to make some unforgettable memories together. We cannot wait to see how our young performers will apply these new skills in their next stage productions.
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