International ballet star goes back to his Ipswich roots

An International ballet star from Ipswich has been back to his Suffolk home town to watch the next generation of performers prepare for their latest musical.

Gary Avis started off his career in the Co-op Junior Theatre Company and this weekend he went back to see their rehearsal of Starlight Express.

It comes as he prepares to bring the Royal Ballet to Ipswich later this year for a series of special performances.

As the Royal Ballet's Principal Dancer and Ballet Master he has a career on stage spanning almost three decades.

Gary Avis started out in the Ipswich based Co-op Juniors himself.

Gary's preparing to come back again in September and is bringing the Royal Ballet with him to perform at the Ipswich Regent.

All to raise money for the Suffolk Community Foundation's Arts & Culture Fund, which goes towards arts projects in the county which Gary says are so important to keep going.

For some of the young performers taking part in the production of Starlight Express it was the first time they had been on roller-skates.

Starlight Express runs from 15th -19th June.