Cats

Cats is a musical by Andrew Lloyd-Webber (1948-)[1].

Original text

Based on the 1939 poetry collection Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot (1888-1965)[2], which Lloyd Webber had begun setting to music in 1977. First performed as a song cycle in 1980, but then producer Cameron Mackintosh (1946-)[3] had it turned into a complete musical with the help of the director Trevor Nunn (1940-)[4] and the choreographer Gillian Lynne (1926-2018)[5]. It opened to at the New London Theatre in the West End in 1981 and then at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway in 1982.

South African productions

2001: First South African production, produced by Pieter Toerien and ArtsCape opening in December, directed and choreography recreated by Jo-Anne Robinson. The cast included Paul Warrick Griffin, Gareth Hewitt, Anton Luitingh, Gareth Williams, Robin van Wyk, Marcus Desando, Jo Galloway, Fem Belling, Marize Nel, with Slindile Nodangala as Grizabella the Glamour Cat.

2002: The production moved to the State Theatre in Pretoria in February for a 16-week run.

2025-26: Performed at Artscape in Cape Town from 10 December 2025 to 11 January 2026, and at The Teatro at Montecasino from 17 January tot 22 February. The show was produced by Pieter Toerien and GWB Entertainment, by arrangement with Lloyd Webber's international entertainment company The Really Useful Group[6] and in association with Cape Town Opera. Utilizing the original designs by John Napier, choreography by the late Gillian Lynne and direction by Trevor Nunn, the production was locally directed and choreographed by Duane Alexander, with a huge South African cast that included Cindy Ann Abrahams (as Grizabella), King B (as Old Deuteronomy), Dylan Janse van Rensburg (as Rum Tum Tugger) and Che-jean Jupp (as Munkustrap), Stephan Van Der Walt, Sibusiso Mxosana, Sipesihle Ngamlana, Tatum Coleman, Tshepo Ncokoane, Michael Fullard, Hannah Marshall, Darren Rockman, Brittane van Loggerenberg, Morgan Marshall, Harry Smallman, Noa Duckitt, Scarlett Pay, Zoe Mclaughlin, Austin Tshikosi, Jordan Roelfze, Tannah Levick, Logan Timbre, Tania Mteto, Cassiel Eatock-Winnik, Ryan Flynn, Jackie Lulu, Marco Titus and Phoebe Charles as swings.

The vast company management and technical crew included: Juanita van Wyk (Company manager), Duane Alexander (Resident director), Louis Zurnamer (Musical dirtector), Morgan Marshall (Dance captain), Wicus Louw (Stage manager), Amber Fox-Martin (Deputy stage manager), Allan Peterson (Head mechanist), Francois van der Hoven (Deputy Head mechanist), Frankie van Straten (Costume head of department) and Madelein Krugell (Wigs head of department)

2026-2027: The company followed up the South African season with a two-year tour of India and the Middle East in 2026-2027.