Talented young performers from Marlborough’s Stagecoach theatre school will take part in Britain’s largest ever performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats.

The school is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the performance at the National Indoor Arena near Birmingham and among the 3,000 performers there will be 35 youngsters who train at St John’s School every Saturday.

Cherilyn Mauby, 17, a sixth form student at St John’s, is one of the dancers. She said: “Over the holidays we had six days of rehearsals in Birmingham from nine to six every day which was intense but really good fun.

“I’m nervous about the performance but excited too.”

There will be some friendly faces for Cherilyn on the day with 34 singers aged between six and 17 from the same Stagecoach school performing in the choir.

Ingrid Bayley, principal of Stagecoach Marlborough, said: “It’s such a huge project for the children to be part of and the pieces are so complex. I’m very proud.

“I can’t wait to see it; I think there will be tears at the end. They’ve worked so hard and when I listen to them it gives me goose bumps.”

A further 2,965 young performers from other Stagecoach schools will be involved in the production including a virtual choir of international students from schools in Canada, Germany, Gibraltar, Ireland, South Africa, Spain and USA who will be projected onto large screens.

Mr Lloyd Webber said of the project: “I’m absolutely thrilled that so many young people will be able to take part in this very special performance of Cats.

“Happy 25th birthday Stagecoach and thank you for giving your students the opportunity to perform the show in such a spectacular way.”

Cats will be performed at the National Indoor Arena on Sunday, March 24, at 7.30pm.