JASCHA Kempf, the Grand Opera House's German intern, scales new heights in the lead-up to Pick Me Up Theatre’s November production of Cats at the York theatre.

Jascha will be in York until December, learning all about the theatre, from marketing to front of house and technical skills, and here she dons a cat suit to set the mood for Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s musical.

Directed and choreographed by Ali Kirkham, Pick Me Up's show will run from November 10 to 17 with a cast featuring Joe Wawrzyniak as Asparagus, Ellie Hall as Bombalurina and Rory Mulvihill as Old Deuteronomy.

Based on Old Possum’s Book Of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, the musical tells the stories of the Jellicle Cats, who come out to play on one special night of the year, the night of the Jellicle Ball in the larger-than-life junkyard playground.

One by one, such favourite feline characters as Rum Tum Tugger, Macavity, Grizabella, Mr Mistoffelees, Old Deuteronemy and Skimbleshanks make their entry in a Lloyd Webber hit whose original production played at the New London Theatre for 21 years.

Each cat will tell a story for the amusement of Old Deuteronomy, their wise and benevolent leader, who must choose one cat to ascend to The Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life.

Among those joining Wawrzyniak, Hall and Mulvihill in the cast will be Frankie Bounds as Bustopher Jones; Tracey Rea, Grizabella; Ava Bounds, Jemima; Alexandra Mather, Jellylorum and Griddlebone; Hermione Collier-Hield, Demeter, and Ria Williams, Jennyanydots and Gumbie.

Taking part too will be Iain Harvey as Munkustrap and Alonzo; Finn East,  Rum Tum Tugger; Andrew Roberts, Skimbleshanks; Shane Scarth,  Macavity and Rumpuscat; Emma Moodie, Victoria; Matilda Gledhill, Mungojerry; Nathan Mundey, Mr Mistoffelees, and Evie Jones, Rumpletezer.

Lloyd Webber's score is best known for Memory, a hit for both Barbra Streisand and Elaine Paige, who played Grizabella in the original West End show. Performances start at 2.30pm and 7.30pm, November 10 and 17; November 11, 3pm; November 12 to 16, 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale from £13.40 on 0844 871 3024 or at atgtickets.com/york