It was May 2020 when Indi, from Moama, first auditioned through a vocal and dance video.
Indi was then called back for a further audition in Bendigo following COVID-safe guidelines.
She was initially offered the role of Jellylorum and commenced regular travel to Bendigo for rehearsals. These were conducted under strict COVID-19 safety requirements.
During the July school holidays in 2020 Indi attended a week-long intensive program at Girton Black Box Theatre to prepare for the production, which was to be held in September that year.
The second lockdown prevented the production going ahead that year, with the show rescheduled to 2021.
At this point the cast members were given the option of proceeding with the production or leaving.
Some departed as they were leaving the area to attend university or commence VCE studies.
Quite a few of the production team left as well, including directors and choreographers, due to other commitments.
Indi was recast into the role of Sillabub at this time by the new production team.
Rehearsals recommenced midway through 2021 with the show rescheduled for September 2021.
Once again COVID-19 prevented the show from occurring and during this time Indi twice relocated to stay with relatives so that she could attend rehearsals.
All this was while still juggling her other performing arts commitments with Dillmac Entertainment in Echuca.
The production was finally rescheduled for January 2022.
Indi is now staying with her sister in Bendigo for three weeks to finalise rehearsals, dress rehearsals and perform in the six shows from January 16-22.
Indi has had strong support to participate in Cats from the team at Dillmac Entertainment.
She has also had to make several sacrifices to attend rehearsals and intensives, including missing out on this weekend’s Follow Your Dreams vocal and dance competitions in Adelaide.
She was a champion of her age level and awarded the best performer at that event in 2021.
Sillabub is the youngest kitten in the Cats musical, her innocence and compassion plays an important role in Grizabella's search for acceptance.
Sillabub originated in the Broadway production as an alternate for the original London character Jemima, but in some productions she has a distinct design and sometimes appears as well as, rather than instead of, Jemima.
