Portsmouth teenager stars in new Cats film with Judi Dench, Taylor Swift, Idris Elba and Ian McKellen

FROM treading the boards as a young boy at the Kings Theatre in Southsea, Redmand Rance is now rubbing shoulders with the stars after landing a role in the new film Cats.
Redmand Rance, left, from Portsmouth (Picture: Mug Photography) with Taylor Swift in the movie Cats (Picture: Universal Pictures)Redmand Rance, left, from Portsmouth (Picture: Mug Photography) with Taylor Swift in the movie Cats (Picture: Universal Pictures)
Redmand Rance, left, from Portsmouth (Picture: Mug Photography) with Taylor Swift in the movie Cats (Picture: Universal Pictures)

The 18-year-old from Portsmouth danced and sang alongside Judi Dench, Taylor Swift, Idris Elba and Ian McKellen in the CGI fantasy film based on the musical, which is due out in December this year.

Redmand said: ‘Being on set was truly amazing and the names I was surrounded by was surreal.

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‘I was so grateful to get the opportunity to learn and absorb everything from such influential performers in the industry.’

The Performers College student clinched a role in the ensemble after being sent to an audition by his college agent.

He said: ‘The audition had so many rounds like tap, jazz and hip hop and a cut was made after each round. I really enjoyed the audition process and felt very at ease as the choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler was welcoming and seemed very fair.’

The film follows a tribe of cats at a fancy event where a geriatric cat named Old Deuteronomy chooses one cat to be reborn on the Heaviside Layer – a heaven-like place that all cats wants to visit.

A still from the trailer for CatsA still from the trailer for Cats
A still from the trailer for Cats
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After receiving the call that he had made the cut, Redmand threw himself into a month of rehearsing alongside co-stars James Corden, Jennifer Hudson and Rebel Wilson before the team began filming at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden in Watford, where the Harry Potter and Star Wars films were also filmed.

Redmand, who went to Ditcham Park School in Petersfield, said: ‘I am beyond excited to see the finished product this December and even more so after seeing the first trailer that was recently released.

‘To see five months of the work that we all put in, I think will be rewarding and satisfying.’

A still from the film CatsA still from the film Cats
A still from the film Cats
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Redmand, who starred in Billy Elliot in the West End when he was 12, is currently on tour with Hugh Jackman, singing and dancing in the Australian’s first world tour, The Man. The Music. The Show.

Speaking about the future, he added: ‘I would love to carry on performing in the West End and hopefully in more upcoming movies.’

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