This year marks the third consecutive year of the Theatre Royal Windsor’s celebrated Summer Community Programme.

As a theatre rich with an over-200 year cultural heritage, its ambitious creative learning programme serves to help local actors reach, work with and learn more about our community. It also allows them to annually open our doors to the vast array of young talent from Windsor and beyond, allowing them to be part of all aspects of a full-scale, professionally-produced musical. And this year it’s Cats. This meow-vellous musical, set in a junkyard playground introduces you to the all dancing tribe of Jellicle Cats.

The whimsical show is based on TS Eliot’s collection of poems, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats and brings together the charismatic personalities on a moonlit night as they gather ahead of the Jellicle Ball where the chosen feline will ascend to The Heaviside Layer and be awarded an extra special life. The purr-fect production composed by the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber, includes the much-loved hit song Memory. Celebrate local talent and enjoy an evening with the all singing, all dancing furry friends!

The theatre’s Community Producer, Alex Lonsdale, tells me: “We are very proud of what we do and we are continually looking at ways of becoming larger in the community. There are 47 young people in the cast aged nine to 18 and they all get to perform alongside professionals, play with professional musicians, lighting and sound engineers and theatre workers who show them the ropes. It’s brilliant for them at whatever stage they are in theatre.”

Cats, Theatre Royal Windsor, Tuesday, August 7-Sunday 12. Box office: 01753 853888 or theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk