On the 10th of January 2004, Cats had its Polish premiere. Produced by Teatr Roma in Warsaw, the show was completely non-replica, with new direction, design, choreography, lighting, and even new orchestrations. The production finally closed in 2010.
This production was one of the very few to translate the title of the show, to Koty. Jellicle Cats is translated to Dachowce (Roof Cats), the Polish equivalent of Alley Cats, with the opening song roughly being called "Alley Song" and the Jellicle Ball become "Alley Ball".
The set was made to look like rooftops, and the costumes use a mix of painted Lycra and mesh, and faux-fur to create a unique visual style, along with choreography that was less technical, but more animalistic. The score was based off of the UK touring score.
Creative Team
Director - Wojciech Kępczyński
Associate Director - Sebastian Gonciarz
Choreography - Jacek Badurek
Associate choreographer - Iwona Runowska
Work on cat's movement - Damian Kacperski
Assistant choreographer - Dorota Krupska-Narloch
Translation - Daniel Wyszogrodzki
Music Director - Maciej Pawlowski
Set Design - Janusz Sosnowski
Costume Design - Dorota Kołodyńska
Wig/Hair Design - Jaga Hupało, Thomas Wolff
Makeup Design - Sergiusz Osmański
Illusionistic effects - Maciej Pol
Consultations on the psyche and anatomy of cats - vet. Beata Rudnicka-Brzezny
Memory - Pamięć Koty Warsaw 2004
Highlights Cats - Polish Cast - 25.05.2004
Characters
Cast
Grizabella | Izabela Zając, Daria Druzgała, Joanna Węgrzynowska |
Kot Nestor
Old Deuteronomy (Senior Cat) |
Zbigniew Macias, Andrzej Kostrzewski, Robert Dymowski |
Kot Bywalec / Gus / Karmazyn
Bustopher Jones (Cat Socialite) / Gus / Growltiger (Crimson) |
Tomasz Steciuk, Wojciech Paszkowski |
Ram Tam Tamek | Jakub Szydłowski, Paweł Podgórski |
Myszołap | Damian Aleksander, Jarosław Derybowski, Tomasz Więcek, Michał Norkowski |
Bombalurina | Patrycja Wódz, Barbara Melzer, Anna Sztejner, Elżbieta Portka |
Wiktor | Łukasz Zagrobelny, Paweł Podgórski, Tomasz Więcek, Wojciech Socha |
Semaforro | Wojciech Dmochowski, Wojciech Socha |
Plameczka Pac | Izabela Bujniewicz, Marta Smuk |
Angelika | Marta Smuk, Izabela Bujniewicz, Nijole Henning |
Pumpernikiel | Magdalena Krylik, Monika Rowińska, Agnieszka Mrozińska |
Mangojerry | Paweł Strymiński, Bartosz Figurski |
Promyczek | Ewa Wlazłowska, Monika Rowińska |
Klaps / Raptus Zuch
Tumblebrutus / Rumpus Cat (Spitfire Lad) |
Michał Piróg, Karol Tymiński, Beata Duda |
Alonzo | Andrzej Pieńko, Robert Adamczewski |
Mefistofeliks | Kris Swaczyna, Paweł Irmiński, Patryk Gładyś, Jakub Jóźwik |
Makiawel
Macavity (Machiavelli) |
Grzegorz Suski, Piotr Nawrocki, Darek Wiórkiewicz, Jarosław Derybowski |
Galaretka
Jellylorum (Jelly) |
Anna Sztejner, Marta Smuk |
Kasandra | Katarzyna Gaweł-Stańkowska, Anna Andrzejewska, Wioletta Fiuk, Zyta Bujacz |
Wiktoria | Natalia Wojciechowska, Ida Nowakowska, Anna Sąsiadek |
Tamtamila | Beata Staniek, Wioletta Fiuk, Paulina Andrzejewska |
Tymoteusz
Coricopat (Timothy) |
Marcin Olszewski, Dariusz Wiórkiewicz, Zyta Bujacz |
Kocik Le Miau / Żyleta* | Paulina Andrzejewska |
Demeter | Ewa Lachowicz |
Brali Daley | Bartosz Figurski, Piotr Nawrocki |
Bili Daley** | Grzegorz Staniek |
Dyzio | Marcin Wortmann |
Fantazja | Agnieszka Jaroszyńska |
Fraszka | Anna Julia Dębowska |
I Tak Daley / Żyleta* | Beata Duda |
Mamrotka / Recydywa | Dorota Krupska-Narloch |
Sierściuch | Darek Wiórkiewicz |
Turbo Ptyś | Patryk Gładyś |
Elektra | Nijole Henning |
Menello Bianco (later renamed Filutek) | Patryk Rybarski |
Kara Kotek | Grzegorz Pierczyński |
Vocal Ensamble “FIVE LINES” | Marzena Ajzert-Lauks, Patrycja Bachora, Agata Warda, Piotr Gogol, Jacek Kotlarski, Adam Krylik, Krzysztof Pietrzak, Michał Rudaś, Mariusz Totoszko, Paweł Usarek |
Backstage Choir | Agata Dąbrowska, Kalina Kasprzak, Malwina Kusior, Małgorzata Szymańska, Magdalena Tul, Agata Załuska,
Helena Zuchniak, Zbigniew Ślarzyński |
*Żyleta is the name of one of the henchcats, at first it was played by Etcetera's actress, then it was changed.
**This character appeared in the first season and was later removed.
As a non-replica production, the named roles do not necessarily align with the parts as expected of replica productions.