Cats 1981

13 Sept

Cats

New London Theatre (now Gillian lynne theatre) 1981

Based on T.S.Eliot ‘s ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking musical tells the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles, and the night they come together at the Jellicle Ball to decide which one of them will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a new life.

Opening in May 1981, the London production ran for 21 years and 8,949 performances, while the Broadway production ran for 18 years and 7,485 performances, making Cats the longest-running musical in both theatre districts for a number of years. Cats has since been revived in the West End twice and on Broadway once. Long-running foreign productions include a 15-year run in Hamburg that played over 6,100 performances, a 7-year run in Vienna, as well as an ongoing run in a purpose-built theatre in Japan that has played over 11,000 performances since it opened in 1983.

It has also been translated into multiple languages and performed around the world many times.

It has collected Awards and broken records throughout its history, winning two Olivier Awards, eight Tony Awards and one Grammy Award, amassed over $4.4 billion in box office receipts and been seen by over 80 million people worldwide.

Original London Cast included: Elaine Paige, Sarah Brightman, Paul Nicholas, Finola Hughes, Brian Blessed, Wayne Sleep, Bonnie Langford, John Thornton

Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber

Lyrics: T.S.Eliot with Richard Stilgoe and Trevor Nunn

Director: Trevor Nunn

Associate Director & Choreographer: Gillian Lynne

Designer: John Napier

Lighting: David Hersey

Producer: Cameron Mackintosh

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