‘Cats’ to return to the West End later this year
By Josh Haggis
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical Cats is returning to the West End later this year.
The musical – based on TS Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats – will return to the capital for a 12-week run at the London Palladium beginning in early December.
The revival will feature some of the show’s original production team, including director Trevor Nunn, costume designer John Napier and choreographer Gillian Lynne.
“We wanted to do Cats again ourselves, then the Palladium came up and Trevor fell in love with it,” Lloyd Webber explained. “We’re taking the Cats show that’s touring and working on it afresh.”
The composer also revealed that there will be a number of minor changes to the show, telling the Daily Mail: “For instance, today Rum Tum Tugger should be a street cat and so that gives us a great dance opportunity, and I must say that I never liked what I did with Growltiger’s Last Stand. I hated it, so we’re having a go at that.”
Cats debuted in the West End in 1981, and went on to have a record-breaking 21 year run before coming to an end in 2002. The original production won an Olivier Award for Best Musical, while the Broadway adaptation went on to win seven Tony Awards.
Tickets for the new run go on sale on July 7.
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