Sydney 1985

Cats had its Australian premiere at the Theatre Royal in Sydney. The production in Sydney ran from 27 July 1985 (with one preview on 26 July) till 1 August 1987 before moving to Melbourne.

Production Specifics
The show was somewhat based on the Broadway version of the show, with a cast that consisted of 22 cats (there was no Electra). Also the characters had their American names - Sillabub, Tumblebrutus, Plato and Pouncival. Unlike the Broadway production, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer sang their own song rather than Mistoffelees narrating. Also the costumes and make-up had their own style, which was used for almost all Asian and Australian productions.

The show moved to Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne in 1987 with a partly new cast.

The Australian version of the show was the base for the Hamburg production which became one of Germany's most successful musicals and had the same production team, including David Taylor as the director and Jo-Anne Robinson as Associate Choreographer.

Creative Team

 * Director: David Taylor (after Trevor Nunn)
 * Choreographer: Gillian Lynne
 * Assistant Choreographer: Jo-Anne Robinson
 * Set Designer: Raymond Huessy (after John Napier )
 * Production Musical Director: Tony Hatch
 * Producers: Cameron Mackintosh, Really Useful Company, Adelaide Festive Centre, Challenge Corporate Services and MLC Theatre Royal

Cast
Later Casts include:
 * Jason Gardiner
 * Julie Williams - Jennyanydots (understudied Grizabella) - 26/07/1986 to 01/08/1987
 * Christopher Hall as Mistoffelees (07/86, 01/87)
 * Michael Grummet as Munkustrap (07/86)
 * Renee Isaacs as Victoria (07/86)
 * Lorry D'Ercole as Tumblebrutus (07/86)
 * Sean Hingston as Rumpus Cat (07/86)
 * From 1986 brochure (before 26/07/1986): Lisa O'Dea, Harry Morris
 * From 1986/1987 brochure (after 26/07/1986): Drew Anthony, Dean Bate, Tracey Boyd, Emma Callaghan, Vanessa Fallon, Linda Hartley, Gary Jones, Cat Lawrence, Lee Lawrence, Peter Lowrey, Melinda O'Connor, Richard Pettyfer, Kim Reeder, Bernadette Robinson (as Jellylorum/Griddlebone), Fo Stamatiou
 * Kerry Woods replaced Debbie Byrne as Grizabella in 11/1986

Cast Recording
A cast recording, conducted by Peter Casey, was released in 1985. It's the only English recording of Cats that includes 'The Awful Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles'.

Trivia

 * The premiere was attended by the Australian Prime Minister, the Treasurer, and the Minister for the Arts. It was interrupted by a bomb scare right before the interval.