Australian Circus Tent Tour

The Cats Circus Tour - or CATS - Run Away to the Circus, as it was officially called - was the first production of Cats that was played in a big top. It toured through Australia from 11 Dec 1999 to 24 Feb 2001. Because the show took place in a circus tent, the audience sat around the stage, just like in the original London production at the New London Theatre. The tent was much bigger than a usual big top; it had c. 2000 seats.

Many of the actors were also known from other Cats productions. Oliver Tóth had been seen in Belgium and Hamburg, Matthew Pike had also performed in Hamburg before. Sharyn Winney, who played Tantomile, and Delia Hannah could later be seen on the Asia-Pacific Tour. Sharyn Winney is now the Associate Choreographer for all Asian/Australian productions.

In 2001, a second tent was built, to tour through Asia. In 2010, the first European tent tour started in Hamburg, Germany.

Circus Elements
What was special about the production were the special circus elements in the show, created by director Jo-Anne Robinson and acrobatic trainer Scott Grayland. There were two trapezes instead of one and they were much more often used than in usual productions of Cats; especially during the Prologue and the Jellicle Ball. Also other acrobatic elements that are known from circus shows, e.g. slack wire, ball balancing, tumbling and bungee, had been included. Therefore, the cast had to learn such skills during a 3 month workshop. Also Jo-Anne Robinson spent some time in China before, working with circus acrobats.

Mungojerrie played the role of the 'circus captain' who directed the other cats who had the role of the main circus performers: Munkustrap, Tumblebrutus, Admetus and Quaxo. Griddlebone was introduced via slackrope.

Production Team
Adapted Direction & Choreography: Jo-Anne Robinson (after Trevor Nunn & Gillian Lynne)

Associate Designer: Raymond Huessy (after John Napier)

Circus Co-ordinator: Scott Grayland

Production Musical Supervisor: Guy Simpson

Assistant Choreographer: Tia Propocz

Associate Costume Designer: Suzy Strout (after John Napier)

Resident Director: John Hackett

Cast
The cast was comparatively large. The ensemble consisted of 28 cats, including Electra, Victor, Jemima, Quaxo and Admetus as chorus kittens/acrobats (while Sillabub, Mistoffelees and Plato also existed as the usual characters known from other productions).