A paw-fect afternoon: APAA Summer Party raises €1,600 for local animals

Sunday, June 7 was APAA’s big day out, and the sun greeted my arrival at Taberna do Sul, in Praia da Rocha, with full Algarve enthusiasm. Produced by Paul Jokinen-Carter, the sold-out APAA Summer Party was already buzzing, and I was welcomed by the ever-cheerful APAA volunteers and talented members of the Algarveans Theatre Group; a double act, radiating the kind of energy that makes you feel you’ve walked into something special.

Lunch was a beautifully boxed-up feast: a choice of meat, vegetarian or fish titbits, a dessert, and a bottle of water, all neatly packaged like a gourmet picnic with a conscience. With food and cocktail in hand, I mingled through the crowd and joined friends on the terrace, where the ocean view did its best but ultimately failed, to upstage the performers.

Halfway through my meal, temptation struck. The APAA pop-up shop was calling — loudly. Volunteers had curated an irresistible spread of upcycled clothes, scarves, shoes and jewellery, all sourced from the APAA shops in Silves and Alvor. I told myself I’d “just browse”. Naturally, I emerged triumphantly clutching treasures I absolutely needed (or so I insisted at the time).

The show kicked off around 3pm with a lively rendition of Talk to the Animals, which had the audience singing along almost immediately. What followed was a joyful parade of comedy sketches, adapted songs, monologues and delightfully cheesy jokes; much of it written or re-written by the cast to fit the Cat & Dog theme.

Two pieces stole my heart: the brilliantly delivered Cod Piece monologue, poking affectionate fun at Portugal’s devotion to bacalhau, and Gallery Talk, where talented cast members embodied famous paintings such as the Laughing Cavalier, Girl with a Pearl Earring, and Gustav Klimt’s Adele Bloch Bauer, to name a few. The costumes alone deserved applause.

During the interval, Anita Wight spoke about APAA’s valuable work for stray cats and dogs, as well as the Pet Legacy Plan from Animal Rescue Algarve (ARA), adding a thoughtful note to the festivities.

A fashion parade rounded off the show, with cast members modelling upcycled outfits from the APAA shops. Predictably, I went back for “just one more look” and left with items I may not strictly need but certainly wanted; all in the name of charity.

As APAA President Jenny Clarke reminded us, the organisation relies entirely on donations and volunteers; and any support is deeply appreciated.

By the end of the afternoon, the event had raised an impressive €1,600. Sunshine, laughter, creativity, community spirit, and a guilt free excuse to shop. What more could anyone want from a Sunday in the Algarve.

Review by Maya Sunario