Picture: Feast Creative
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre will be the spectacular setting for the debut of a major new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats next summer.
Produced by Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre with Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, the production will be directed and choreographed by the venue’s artistic director Drew McOnie.
Part of McOnie’s second season at the helm of the prestigious venue, the production will play the magical outdoor space from 25 July until 12 September 2026. It will be the third Andrew Lloyd Webber title produced by the venue in the last 10 years, following on from the Olivier-Award winning revival of Jesus Christ Superstar (choreographed by McOnie) in 2016, 2017 and 2020, and Evita in 2019.
The production will then embark on a major UK tour through to July 2027, opening in Plymouth before visiting Hull, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Llandudno and Glasgow. Further locations will be announced at a later date.
Announcing the production, McOnie said: “As for many dancers in the industry, Cats was a transformative experience for me and as a former cast member it’s thrilling to be directing and choreographing this brand-new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical.
“I can’t wait to share this much-loved piece with a new generation of audiences both in the stunning outdoor setting of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and in theatres across the UK. With the production heading out on tour, we are delighted that it will reach audiences across the country after its London run, continuing our commitment to working with partners – in this case the brilliant Michael Harrison – to ensure our work is seen by as many as possible beyond our home in Regent’s Park.”
Lloyd Webber said: “I am very excited to see a totally new production of Cats back on the stage where it belongs. I can think of no one better than Drew McOnie to bring a new vision to the world of the Jellicles.”
Harrison added: “I am delighted that we will be presenting a brand new production of Cats next summer. Drew is an outstanding artist and it has long felt destined that he would one day reinvent this great musical. Andrew and I are excited to be working with him and his team at Regent’s Park, and we look forward to the Jellicle Moon shining brightly on this thrilling new production in the splendour of the Open Air Theatre and at major theatres across the country as part of the new UK tour.”
Based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, Lloyd Webber’s much-loved musical premiered at the New London Theatre in 1981 where it played for 21 record-breaking years and almost 9,000 performances. The ground-breaking production was the winner of the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical. The 1983 Broadway production won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical and ran for 18 years.
One of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history, Cats has been presented in over 54 countries, translated into 23 languages and has been seen by more than 77 million people worldwide.
In 2026 Cats will also embark on two major international tours while the 2024 re-imagining of the musical – Cats: The Jellicle Ball – will make its Broadway debut at the Broadhurst Theatre.
Angela Thomas
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