Following the end of the limited run at the Palladium in January 2016, Cats began a UK / European Tour, starting in Manchester at the end of January 2016. The set uses the number plate "NAP 13R".
The production toured the UK, as well as engagements in Italy and Switzerland in 2016. In 2017 and 2018 the same production had stops in the Middle East, Asia as well as European venues, with no UK tour dates announced. The production continues to be performed in English. The 2018 leg of the tour began in Hong Kong, and included visits to 13 Chinese cities, before taking a hiatus. The tour returned to Europe at the very end of 2018 into 2019, continuing on to East Asia and South East Asia from 2019 onwards. Due to the Covid pandemic, dates in Asia in 2020 and Europe into 2021 were cancelled.
The tour resumed on 13 May 2022 in Switzerland, and played dates across Europe until February 2023. The tour resumed once more in China, for the first time in five years, in October 2024, with dates across that country until the end of January 2025. Another leg of the tour is scheduled to begin in Germany in April 2025, also touring Austria and Switzerland, until September 2025.
Production Specifics[]
This production used a new built touring set, "NAP 13R", which is somewhat flatter and more readily transportable than the previous UK Tour set "NAP 16". Rather than using a staircase, or "flying saucer", to transport Grizabella to the Heaviside Layer, this production uses a flying harness and she ascends apparently unaided. Compared to the previous UK tour, this production brought back Mistoffelees' rope entrance and the trapeze in the opening.
In terms of material performed, the 2016 run of this tour followed closely to the Palladium revisions, with Street Cat Tugger, glamorous Grizabella, the Bill Deamer choreographed tap number etc. The production cut "Pouncival" from the cast list, however used the Pouncival/George costume (as well as two distinctly different Electra costumes) as Swing costumes.
Changes within the 2016 Run[]
Towards the end of 2016 small changes were introduced, including the ensemble echoing Demeter's alarmed cry of "Macavity?!". Similar small changes were introduced to the previous UK Tour as they prepared for the major changes involved in the Palladium production.
Changes from the 2017 Run[]
From the 2017 run onwards, the production title was renamed from "UK/Europe Tour" to "International Tour". The Street Cat Tugger was reverted to the original Rockstar version and Growltiger's Last Stand was cut completely. "Pekes and Pollicles" was moved from Act 1, and replaced by a short "Macavity" preview before the Jellicle Ball. "Pekes and Pollicles" replaced ""Growltiger's Last Stand" as a performance by Gus, Munkustrap, and the ensemble. The reprise of "Gus, the Theatre Cat" that followed "Growltiger's Last Stand", as the audience were brought out of the flashback and back into the present, is cut as this version of "Pekes and Pollicles" is not a flashback scene; the audience sees Gus get to play the Great Rumpus Cat one last time.
Similar to the 2007-2010 Australasia tour, Jemima sang her "Moonlight" verse of "The Moments of Happiness" in Mandarin Chinese during the tour stops in China.
See HERE for more details on the changes to the score.
COVID 2020 Tour Cancellations[]
Asia 2020
Cats was originally scheduled to play the following tour dates in China. However, the dates were cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.[1]
| City | Theatre | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai, China | SHANGYIN Opera House | 15 May, 2020 - 24 May, 2020 |
| Beijing, China | Century Theatre | 3 Jul, 2020 - 9 Jul, 2020 |
| Tianjin, China | Tianjin Auditorium | 14 Jul, 2020 - 19 Jul, 2020 |
| Xi'an, China | Shanxi Grand Theatre | 24 Jul, 2020 - 29 Jul, 2020 |
Cats was planned to tour Germany, Austria and Switzerland from December 2020, performing in English. The regional dates were to be produced by Mehr-BB Promotion. However with the ongoing pandemic at the time these plans were not set in action.
Before the tour was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the following cast had been announced for the 2020 China run: Rhys Batten as Coricopat / Dance Captain, Jo Bird as Tantomile, Karina Russell as Victoria. Because of the tour's suspension, many of the cast members ended up transferring to the 2020 Asia Tour instead.
Changes from the 2022 Run[]
From the 2022 run onwards, the production used new character designs created by John Napier in 2021.
Tour Dates[]
| City | Theatre | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester, England | Opera House | 30th January - 13th February 2016 |
| Genoa, Italy | Teatro Carlo Felice | 18th February - 21st February 2016 |
| Turin, Italy | Teatro Regio | 25th February - 28th February 2016 |
| Milan, Italy | Teatro degli Arcimboldi | 2nd March - 6th March 2016 |
| Bari, Italy | Teatro Petruzzelli | 10th March - 13th March 2016 |
| Bologna, Italy | Unipol Arena | 17th March - 20th March 2016 |
| Basel, Switzerland | Musical Theater Basel | 19th April - 22nd April 2016 |
| Birmingham, England | Hippodrome | 30th May - 4th June 2016 |
| Ipswich, England | Regent Theatre | 6th June - 11th June 2016 |
| Leeds, England | Grand Theatre | 20th June - 2nd July 2016 |
| Edinburgh, Scotland | Playhouse Theatre | 4th July - 9th July 2016 |
| Liverpool, England | Liverpool Empire | 11th July - 16th July 2016 |
| Southend, England | Cliffs Pavilion | 18th July - 23rd July 2016 |
| Nottingham, England | Theatre Royal | 26th July - 6th August 2016 |
| Southampton, England | Mayflower Theatre | 9th August - 20th August 2016 |
| Eastbourne, England | Congress Theatre | 22nd August - 27th August 2016 |
| Torquay, England | Princess Theatre | 29th August - 3rd September 2016 |
| Stoke on Trent, England | Regent Theatre | 5th September - 10th September 2016 |
| Glasgow, Scotland | Kings Theatre | 13th September - 17th September 2016 |
| Sunderland, England | Sunderland Empire | 19th September - 24th September 2016 |
| Oxford, England | New Theatre | 27th September - 1st October 2016 |
| Sheffield, England | Lyceum Empire | 3rd October - 15th October 2016 |
| Milton Keynes, England | MK Theatre | 24th October - 29th October 2016 |
| Wimbledon, England | New Wimbledon | 7th November - 12th November 2016 |
| Budapest, Hungary | SYMA Event Centre | 17th November - 19th November 2016 |
| City | Theatre | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai, UAE | Dubai Opera | 16th January - 28th January 2017 |
| Doha, Qatar | Qatar National Convention Center | 1st February - 4th February 2017 |
| Kuwait City, Kuwait | Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre | 9th February - 12th February 2017 |
| Zagreb, Croatia | Arena Zagreb | 22nd March - 24th March 2017 |
| Antwerp, Belgium | Koningin Elizabethzaal | 29th March - 17th April 2017 |
| Lausanne, Switzerland | Théâtre de Beaulieu | 25th April - 7th May 2017 |
| Sofia, Bulgaria | National Palace of Culture | 11th May - 13th May 2017 |
| Warsaw, Poland | Torwar Arena | 18th May 2017 |
| Munich, Germany | Deutsches Theater | 18th July - 6th August 2017 |
| Berlin, Germany | Admiralspalast | 9th August - 19th August 2017 |
| Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Alte Oper | 23rd August - 27th August 2017 |
| Baden-Baden, Germany | Festspielhaus | 29th August - 3rd September 2017 |
| Bremen, Germany | Musical Theater | 5th September - 10th September 2017 |
| Duisburg, Germany | Theater am Marientor | 12th September - 17th September 2017 |
| Oslo, Norway | Oslo Spektrum | 21st September - 23rd September 2017 |
| Gothenburg, Sweden | Scandinavium | 28th September - 30th September 2017 |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Ericsson Globe | 5th October - 8th October 2017 |
| Malmö, Sweden | Malmö Arena | 12th October - 15th October 2017 |
| Helsinki | Hartwall Arena | 19th October - 22nd October 2017 |
| Copenhagen, Denmark | Royal Arena | 25th October - 29th October 2017 |
| Horsens, Denmark | Forum Horsens | 1st November - 5th November 2017 |
| Cologne, Germany | Musical Dome | 8th November - 26th November 2017 |
| City | Theatre | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong, Hong Kong | Lyric Theatre, HKAPA | 6th January - 11th February 2018 |
| Taichung, China | Taichung National Opera Theater | 1st March - 4th March 2018 |
| Tainan, China | Tainan Cultural Center Auditorium | 8th March - 11th March 2018 |
| Taipei, China | National University Auditorium | 15 March - 18th March 2018 |
| Shenzhen, China | Nanshan Culture Sports Theatre | 5th April - 13th April 2018 |
| Nanjing, China | 12th May - 20th May 2018 | |
| Shanghai, China | SAIC Shanghai Culture Square | 7th June - 30th June 2018 |
| Shanghai, China | Shanghai Grand Theatre | 25th July - 5th August 2018 |
| Shijiazhuang, China | Shijiazhuang Grand Theatre | 10th August - 12th August 2018 |
| Chongqing, China | International Circus Theatre | 17th August - 23rd August 2018 |
| Guangzhou, China | Guangzhou Opera House | 30th August - 16th September 2018 |
| Beijing, China | Beijing Century Theater | 21st September - 7th October 2018 |
| City | Theatre | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam, Netherlands | RAI Theater | 20th December 2018 - 13th January 2019 |
| Rotterdam, Netherlands | Nieuwe Luxor Theatre | 14th January - 27th January 2019 |
| Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg | Rockhal | 5th February - 10th February 2019 |
| Zurich, Switzerland | Theater 11 | 12th February - 24th February 2019 |
| Brussels, Belgium | Palais 12 | 19th March - 24th March 2019 |
| Rotterdam | Luxor Theater | 2nd April - 7th April |
| Groningen | Martiniplaza | 9th April - 14th April |
| Breda, Netherlands | Chassé Theater | 17th April - 22nd April 2019 |
| City | Theatre | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai, China | Shanghai Culture Square | From: 7 Jun, 2019 |
| Wuhan, China | Wuhan Theatre | From: 21 Jun, 2019 |
| Beijing, China | Century Theater | From: 2 Jul, 2019 |
| Wuxi, China | Wuxi People's Hall | From: 19 Jul, 2019 |
| Nanjing, China | Jiangsu Centre for Performing Arts | From: 30 Jul, 2019 |
| Nanchang, China | Jiangxi Performing Art Centre | From: 9 Aug, 2019 |
| Chengdu, China | Dongjiao Memory Centre | From: 20 Aug, 2019 |
| Kunming, China | Yunan Grand Theatre | From: 30 Aug, 2019 |
| Shenzhen, China | Orange Theatre | From: 11 Sep, 2019 |
| Haikou, China | Oriental Theatre | 27 Sep, 2019 - 3 Oct, 2019 |
| Guangzhou, China | Baiyun International Centre | 8 Oct, 2019 - 20 Oct, 2019 |
| Manila, Phillippines | The Theatre At Solaire | 6 Nov - 1 Dec, 2019 |
| Singapore | Marina Bay Sands | 17 Dec, 2019 - 5 Jan, 2020 |
| City | Theatre | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich, Switzerland | Theatre11 | 13 May – 29 May, 2022 |
| Munich, Germany | Deutsches Theater | 1 Jun – 26 Jun, 2022 |
| Bremen, Germany | Metropol Theater | 29 Jun – 3 Jul, 2022 |
| Berlin, Germany | Admiralspalast | 6 Jul – 17 Jul, 2022 |
| Dresden, Germany | Semperoper | 19 Jul – 7 Aug, 2022 |
| Tallinn, Estonia | Alexela Concer Hall | 27 Sep – 2 Oct, 2022 |
| Stavanger, Norway | DNB Arena | 6 Oct – 9 Oct, 2022 |
| Trondheim, Norway | Spectrum Arena | 13 Oct – 15 Oct, 2022 |
| Tampere, Finland | Nokia Arena | 27 Oct – 30 Oct, 2022 |
| Helsinki, Finland | Helsinki Ice Hall | 4 Nov – 6 Nov, 2022 |
| Oslo, Norway | Spectrum Arena | 10 Nov – 13 Nov, 2022 |
| Gothenburg, Sweden | Scandinavium | 17 Nov – 20 Nov, 2022 |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Avicii Arena | 24 Nov – 27 Nov, 2022 |
| Malmo, Sweden | Malmo Arena | 1 Dec – 4 Dec, 2022 |
| Rotterdam, Netherlands | Rotterdam Ahoy | 15 Dec - 18 Dec, 2022 |
| Frankfurt, Germany | Alte Oper | 20 Dec 2022 - 7 Jan 2023 |
| Basel, Switzerland | Musical Theater Basel | 10 Jan - 23 Jan, 2023 |
| Baden Baden, Germany | Festspielhaus | 25 Jan - 29 Jan, 2023 |
| Stuttgart, Germany | Porsche Arena | 30 Jan - 5 Feb 2023 |
| Lisbon, Portugal | Campo Pequeno | 14 Feb - 19 Feb, 2023 |
| Porto, Portugal | Super Bock Arena | 22 Feb - 26 Feb, 2023 |
The schedule for the 2024 China tour is as follows:
| City | Theatre | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Shenzhen, China | Orange Theatre | 11 October – 24 October, 2024 (16 shows) |
| Zhuhai, China | Huafa & CPAA Grand Theater | 29 October – 3 November, 2024 (8 shows) |
| Xi'an, China | Shaanxi Performing Arts Center | 8 November – 14 November, 2024 (8 shows) |
| Beijing, China | Beijing Performing Arts Centre | 19 November - 24 November, 2024 (8 shows) |
| Tianjin, China | People’s Hall | 29 November - 5 December, 2024 (8 shows) |
| Hangzhou, China | Hangzhou Grand Theatre | 10 December - 15 December, 2024 (8 shows) |
| Zhengzhou, China | Zhengzhou Grand Theatre | 20 December - 26 December, 2024 (8 shows) |
| Suzhou, China | Shishan Grand Theatre | 31 December 2024 - 5 January 2025 (8 shows) |
| Shanghai, China | New Bund 31 Performing Arts Center | 10 January - 26 January, 2025 (21 shows) |
Another leg of the tour is scheduled to start in April 2025, touring Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
| City | Theatre | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Düsseldorf, Germany | Capitol Theater | 09 April – 07 June, 2025 |
| Munich, Germany | Deutsches Theater München | 11 June – 22 June, 2025 |
| Frankfurt, Germany | Alte Oper Frankfurt | 25 June – 06 July, 2025 |
| Berlin, Germany | Admiralspalast | 21 August - 07 September, 2025 |
| Zurich, Switzerland | Theater 11 | 08 September - 21 September, 2025 |
Cast and Galleries[]
Creative Team (2024)[]
- Composer, Co-Producer, Orchestrator: Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Author: T S Eliot
- Director: Trevor Nunn
- Choreographer & Associate Director: Gillian Lynne
- Designer: John Napier
- Original Lighting Design: David Hersey
- Co-Orchestrator: David Cullen
- Associate Director and Choreographer: Chrissie Cartwright
- Musical Supervisor: Graham Hurman
- Associate Musical Supervisor: Peter McCarthy
- Sound Designer: Greg Pink
- Lighting Designer: Howard Eaton
- Gumbie Cat Tap Choreography: Bill Deamer
- Musical Director: Adrian Kirk
- Resident Director: Dane Quixall
- Casting Director for Grindrod Burton CDG: Stephen Crockett
- Production Manager for SGPM LTD: Simon Gooding
- Orchestral Management: Stephen Hill for Musicians UK LTD
- Producer: David Ian
- Producer: Cameron Mackintosh
- Producer: The Really Useful Group
- Costume Supervisor: Tracy Stiles
- Wig Supervisor: Suzy Barrett
- Associate Wig Supervisor: Hannah McGregor
- Make Up Supervisor: Maria Cave
2016[]
Initial cast list announcements listed Rebecca Parker as playing Bombalurina, however from the first performance the role was covered by Megan Armstrong, initially a swing in the production.
| Character | Performer |
|---|---|
| Admetus / Macavity | Javier Cid Ashley-Jordan Packer (Oct 24 onwards) |
| Alonzo / Rumpus Cat | Josh Andrews Fletcher Dobinson (Oct 24 onwards) |
| Asparagus / Bustopher Jones | Greg Castiglioni |
| Bill Bailey | Aaron Hunt |
| Bombalurina | Megan Armstrong |
| Carbucketty | Enric Marimon |
| Cassandra | Danielle Cato |
| Coricopat | James Titchener |
| Demeter | Helen Turner |
| Grizabella | Anita Louise Combe (Jan-Mar) Joanna Ampil (Mar-Apr) Marianne Benedict (May onwards) |
| Jellylorum | Celia Graham |
| Jemima | Phoebe Lewis |
| Jennyanydots | Lucinda Shaw |
| Quaxo / Mistoffelees | Shiv Rabheru |
| Mungojerrie | Joe Henry |
| Munkustrap | Matt Krzan |
| Old Deuteronomy | Kevin Stephen-Jones |
| Rumpleteazer | Emily Langham |
| Rum Tum Tugger | Marcquelle Ward |
| Skimbleshanks | Lee Greenaway |
| Tantomile | Gabrielle Cocca |
| Victoria | Sophia McAvoy Hannah Kenna Thomas (emergency cover for September) |
| Swing | Lydia Bannister |
| Swing | Lucy Brushett |
| Swing | Alice Cornwell |
| Swing | Connor McAllister |
| Swing | Dane Quixall |
| Swing | Oliver Ramsdale |
| Swing | Guy Salim |
2017[]
2018[]
| Character | Performer |
|---|---|
| Admetus / Macavity | Thomas Inge |
| Alonzo | Lloyd Davies |
| Asparagus / Bustopher Jones / Rumpus Cat | Matt Harrop |
| Bill Bailey | Dean Ambrose |
| Bombalurina | Sally Frith |
| Carbucketty | Louis Van Leer |
| Cassandra | Katie Deacon |
| Coricopat | Fletcher Dobinson |
| Demeter | Ella Nonini |
| Grizabella | Jenna Lee-James |
| Jellylorum | Elizabeth Futter |
| Jemima | Grace Swaby |
| Jennyanydots | Ceili O'Connor |
| Quaxo / Mistoffelees | Alex Harrison |
| Mungojerrie | Billy Mahoney |
| Munkustrap | Jak Skelly |
| Old Deuteronomy | John Ellis |
| Rumpleteazer | Kirsty Ingram |
| Rum Tum Tugger | Dan Partridge |
| Skimbleshanks | Matthew Rowland |
| Tantomile | Eilish Harmon-Beglan |
| Victoria | Hannah Kenna Thomas |
| Swing | Gemma Buckingham |
| Swing | Peter Cork |
| Swing | Rebecca Fennelly |
| Swing | Nathan Zach Johnson |
| Swing | Andrew Keelan |
| Swing | Amy Whittle |
| Swing / Resident Director | Dane Quixall |
2019[]
| Character | Performer |
|---|---|
| Admetus / Macavity | Thomas Inge (Dance Captain) |
| Alonzo | Lloyd Davies |
| Asparagus / Bustopher Jones / Rumpus Cat | Andrew Keelan |
| Bill Bailey | Mukeni Nel |
| Bombalurina | Sally Frith |
| Carbucketty | Cian Hughes |
| Cassandra | Danielle Cato |
| Coricopat | Rhys Batten |
| Demeter | Erica Jayne Alden |
| Grizabella | Li-Tong Hsu (China) Joanna Ampil (Manila & Singapore) |
| Jellylorum | Elizabeth Futter |
| Jemima | Holly Willock |
| Jennyanydots | Amy Whittle |
| Quaxo / Mistoffelees | Harry Francis (June - August) Axel Alvarez (August - October) Harry Francis (November - January) |
| Mungojerrie | Joe Henry |
| Munkustrap | Luke Fraser Yates |
| Old Deuteronomy | Nicholas Pound |
| Rumpleteazer | Kirsty Ingram |
| Rum Tum Tugger | George Hinson |
| Skimbleshanks | Gavin Eden |
| Tantomile | Gabrielle Cocca (Dance Captain) |
| Victoria | Ellie Young |
| Walking Cover | Barry Haywood |
| Swing | Liam Buckland |
| Swing | Abigail Dever |
| Swing | Lee Nicholson |
| Swing | Brian O'Muiri |
| Swing | Elly Shaw |
| Swing | Alexandra Wright |
| Swing / Resident Director | Dane Quixall |
2022[]
Opening Night: 13 May 2022
Closing Night: 26 February 2023
2024[]
Opening Night: 11 October 2024
Closing Night: 26 January 2025
| Character | Performer |
|---|---|
| Admetus / Macavity | Marco Venturini |
| Alonzo | Daniel Timoney |
| Asparagus / Bustopher Jones / Rumpus Cat | Hal Fowler |
| Bill Bailey | Reece Darlington-Delaire |
| Bombalurina | Rhianne Alleyne |
| Carbucketty | Charles Croysdill |
| Cassandra | Emma Johnson |
| Coricopat | Bailey Johnson |
| Demeter | Alice Oberg |
| Grizabella | Lucy May Barker |
| Jellylorum | Ann-Marie Craine |
| Jemima | Gabrielle Parker |
| Jennyanydots | Hazel Baldwin |
| Quaxo / Mistoffelees | Liam Mower |
| Mungojerrie | Marcus May |
| Munkustrap | Sam Brown |
| Old Deuteronomy | Michael Robert-Lowe |
| Rumpleteazer | Lauren Bronwyn-Wood |
| Rum Tum Tugger | Jesse Chidera |
| Skimbleshanks | Gavin Eden |
| Tantomile | Deja Linton |
| Victoria | Isabel Moore |
| Walking Cover | Connor McAllister |
| Swing | Jamie Armour |
| Swing | Nikki Biddington |
| Swing | Aaron Jenkins |
| Swing | David McIntosh |
| Swing / Asst. Dance Captain | Meghan Peploe-Williams |
| Swing / Dance Captain | Carrie Willis |
| Resident Director / Choreographer | Dane Quixall |
Video[]
Trivia[]
- Cats was China's most popular musical of 2018, earning more than 100 million yuan and accounting for 22.4 per cent of the revenues for all musicals in China that year.[2]
References[]
Ticket Information[]
- UK Dates - www.Ents24.com
- European Dates 2020 Mehr-BB Promotion