Cats continues at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, London until 19 September 2026. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ It’s not a reinvention but an improved and dusted-off version of a classic.
Tag Archives | Cats
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s new production of Cats – the full cast and tour dates
The full cast has been confirmed for Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats this summer.
New Cats to prowl Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2026
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.
Here’s to the Ladies… Bonnie Langford – Crazy Coqs
Here’s to the Ladies… Bonnie Langford at Crazy Coqs, London. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Once upon a time, as Baby June, she would sing ‘Let me entertain you’. Fifty years on and the ever-youthful Langford is doing that as brilliantly as ever.
First Theatre Café Diner opens in London
The UK’s first Theatre Café Diner has opened in the heart of London’s theatreland. Covering two floors at 154 Shaftesbury Avenue, The Theatre Café Diner aims to offer a full theatrical dining experience mixing classic high quality diner food with a waiting team singing musical theatre classics and walls covered in theatrical memorabilia.
Book Review: Music, Marigolds and Me – Paul Nicholas (with Douglas Thompson)
MUSIC, MARIGOLDS AND ME – Paul Nicholas with Douglas Thompson (Fantom Publishing). Star rating: two stars ★ ★ ✩ ✩ ✩ Paul Nicholas has done everything. Without formal training, he has notched up credits and much esteem as a pop star, musical theatre lead, straight actor, director and producer. Now 76, he details his many adventures and achievements […]
Kerry Ellis to reprise the role of Grizabella in international tour of Cats
Kerry Ellis will be stepping back into the role of Grizabella when GWB Entertainment’s international touring production of Cats reaches Taiwan this summer. The West End and Broadway leading lady will play her part in the 4oth anniversary celebrations of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical when the tour visits the Taipei Arena in Taipei from […]
Kerry Ellis sings new version of ‘Memory’ in tribute to live theatre
West End favourite Kerry Ellis has recorded a special version of ‘Memory’ from Cats in support of Acting For Others. The haunting and much-covered ballad from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical has been re-written to provide the soundtrack for an emotional music video which aims to raise awareness of the plight of the industry due to […]
Bonnie Langford: Fifty Years On Stage – live-streamed from Crazy Coqs
Bonnie Langford: Fifty Years On Stage – live-streamed from Crazy Coqs, London (repeated at 6.30pm and 8.30pm on 17 December 2020). Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ From the almost unbearably cute six-year-old who won TV talent show Opportunity Knocks to her multiple stage successes and TV soap fame, there hasn’t been much in […]
Special YouTube MAD Drag Night in aid of Covid-19 hardship fund
With this year’s MAD Drag Night shelved due to the Coronavirus-crisis, a number of former celebrity hosts have been enlisted for a special fundraising online show this weekend. Celebrating the glitz and glamour of one of the highlights of the Make A Difference Trust’s fundraising calendar, the Best of A MAD Drag Night will stream […]
Ruthie Henshall reschedules tour dates
West End favourite Ruthie Henshall has announced new dates for the UK debut of her hit show In My Life after the tour was shelved due to Covid-closedown. Originally due to arrive in the UK in April following a critic and audience-pleasing tour of Australia, the intimate show which features Henshall accompanied by her musical […]
Cats – The Shows Must Go On YouTube channel
Cats – The Shows Must Go On YouTube Channel. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ The seven-week trawl through the Andrew Lloyd Webber back catalogue on the noble lord’s free The Shows Must Go On YouTube channel came to an end at the weekend with his big 1981 hit which ran for 21 […]
Film Review: Repeat Attenders
REPEAT ATTENDERS (Hello Dooley Productions) Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Repeat Attenders is a documentary that examines the lives of musical theatre’s most diehard fans. Did reading that sentence make you check over your shoulder for hidden camera crews? Don’t worry, this film goes far beyond seeing Wicked five times or listening to […]
Cats is this week’s Shows Must Go On offering
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats will be the next show available free of charge on The Shows Must Go On YouTube channel. Starring Elaine Paige as Grizabella and John Mills as Gus, the 1998 Universal Studios film was recorded at London’s Adelphi Theatre. Directed by David Mallet, the film also features Ken Page as Old Deuteronomy, […]
Tributes flow in for popular performer Nolan Frederick
Graham Norton and Miriam Margolyes are among the many friends and theatre colleagues who have taken to social media to post heartfelt tributes to Nolan Frederick following the announcement of the actor’s death. A hugely popular performer, Nolan Frederick’s extensive musical theatre credits included Cats, Ragtime, Show Boat, Kiss Me, Kate, Bat Boy, The Pajama […]
Cats – Kilworth House Theatre
Cats continues at Kilworth House Theatre, Leicestershire until 8 September 2019. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ There’s a gale blowing across the canopy of the Kilworth House Theatre, but tonight’s litter is ready for action – with updated sets, costumes, and choreography to show off. This is the first non-replica production of Cats […]
INTERVIEW: ‘Gillian Lynne was one of those very special beings’: Michael Howe joins the star-studded line-up in To Gillie With Love
Today [Tuesday 2 July 2019], stars who worked with the late great Gillian Lynne will come together for one night only to celebrate her incredible career in the special tribute show To Gillie With Love. The event will take place, fittingly, at London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre. Widely regarded as one of the world’s most innovative […]
‘It’s a fun show, it’s heartfelt & I hope they learn a little bit about drag’: Velmi Celli wows the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
VELMA CELLI is the alter-ego of IAN STROUGHAIR. Velma has had a two-year-long residency at The Hippodrome, London and sold out shows at 54 Below, NYC, and London’s Charing Cross Theatre. She recently returned from sell-out performances across Australia and is now at the Edinburgh Fringe for Iconic – A Brief History of Drag which […]
Tributes pour in for legendary choreographer and director Gillian Lynne
Andrew Lloyd Webber has led the tributes to the much-loved choreographer and director Gillian Lynne who has died at the age of 92. Writing on Twitter, the composer and impresario marked the passing of his long-time colleague and friend, writing: “Farewell dearest Gillie, three generations of the British musical owe so much to you. With Love, Andrew.” […]
New London Theatre to be re-named the Gillian Lynne Theatre
Andrew Lloyd Webber has announced the New London Theatre will become the first West End venue to be named after a woman and a choreographer when it is re-branded the Gillian Lynne Theatre. The composer and impresario revealed the news while in conversation with Graham Norton at a special event at the New London Theatre […]
Cat The Play – Gerard McCarthy stars in West End premiere
Showbiz satire Cat – (The Play!!!) is to make its West End debut this week, following on from successful runs across Ireland and at Leicester Curve. Featuring The Fall and Hollyoaks’ actor Gerard McCarthy, the tongue-in-cheek homage to musical theatre centres on the sacking of Dave The Cat from the musical Cats just minutes before curtain-up on opening […]
Andrew Lloyd Webber celebrates four musicals on Broadway
Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber celebrated four musicals playing simultaneously on Broadway when Sunset Boulevard opened at the Palace Theatre yesterday (9 February 2017). Three of Lloyd Webber’s musicals rang in 2017 by breaking house records at the Winter Garden (School of Rock – The Musical), Majestic (The Phantom of the Opera) and Neil Simon (Cats) […]
Elaine Paige – Stripped Back – G Live, Guildford and Touring
Elaine Paige – Stripped Back at G Live, Guildford. The show continues to tour England and Wales on selected dates until 18 December 2016, ending in the West End. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Following on from Elaine Paige’s sell-out tour Page by Page by Paige and the associated concert I’m Still Here two years ago, […]
Lloyd Webber celebrates Broadway triple
The first night of the Broadway revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats became part of a double celebration for the British composer who now has three hit shows running on Broadway. To mark the occasion Lloyd Webber was joined by School of Rock’s Alex Brightman, The Phantom of the Opera’s James Barbour and his newest […]
Cats – Neil Simon Theatre, New York
Cats continues at the Neil Simon Theatre, New York. Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Who or what is responsible for the explosive power that threatens to blow the roof off Broadway’s Neil Simon Theatre, where the new production of Cats, the Andrew Lloyd Webber’s cash-spouting bonanza, has just opened? Is it […]
Broadway openings preview – felines, teens and Russians
The all-singing, all-dancing kitties are back, and thus begins the new season – 2016/17 – on Broadway, writes Ron Cohen. They’ll be joined through the end of the year by a slate of musical openings that highlight a diverse range of humans, from contemporary teens in turmoil to 19th century Russians in turmoil. Cats Andrew […]
Leona Lewis will be Grizabella in Broadway’s Cats
Leona Lewis will take on the role of Grizabella in the Broadway revival of Cats this July. The casting of the British singer, who is widely regarded as the most gifted X Factor champion, brings to an end weeks of speculation following Andrew Lloyd Webber’s angry revelation that American Nicole Scherzinger had ditched her chance of […]
Lloyd Webber anger at Scherzinger Broadway Cats no-show
Andrew Lloyd Webber has revealed his anger at Nicole Scherzinger’s decision to ditch her chance of Broadway stardom in Cats in favour of returning to faltering TV talent show The X Factor. Lloyd Webber, who was credited with rejuvenating the former Pussycat Doll’s singing career when she was cast as Grizabella in the West End […]
Cats will return to Broadway this summer
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking musical Cats will return to Broadway this summer at the Neil Simon Theatre. Preview performances will begin on 14 July, with an official opening set for 2 August 2016. When Cats opens, Lloyd Webber will, once again, have the rare distinction of having three musicals running simultaneously on Broadway: The Phantom of the Opera, School of Rock – The Musical, and Cats . Composed by Lloyd Webber and based […]
Cats – London Palladium
Cats continues at the London Palladium until 2 January 2016. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ There are some long-running West End shows whose continuing popularity tends to generate dismissive sniffs amongst Theatreland’s more prolific theatregoers. These tend to be the shows that do not have the narrative draw of a highly […]
Casting update for Cats at the London Palladium
As previously announced, Beverley Knight is to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats to play the role of Grizabella. Returning to the London Palladium from 23 October 2015 in a strictly limited 11-week season, Cats is booking to 2 January 2016. The cast joining Beverley Knight (Grizabella) at the Palladium comprises Jack Butterworth (Rumpus/Alonzo), Danielle Cato (Cassandra), Javier Cid (Macavity/Admetus), Luke Cinque-White (Carbucketty), Emma Lee Clark (Bombalurina), Jon-Scott Clark (Bill Bailey), Gabrielle Cocca (Tantomile), Harry Francis (Mungojerrie), Tarryn Gee (Jemima), Evan James (Skimbleshanks), Matt Krzan (Munkustrap), Georgie […]
Kerry Ellis – The Pheasantry, London
Kerry Ellis performed in cabaret at The Pheasantry, London. Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ Seven months pregnant and thankfully unrestricted by the catsuit she wore when taking over Grizabella from Nicole Scherzinger at the London Palladium earlier in the year, Kerry Ellis is in wickedly good form for her short residency in the Kings Road cabaret room, […]
See Beverley Knight sing Memory for Andrew Lloyd Webber
On 22 July 2015 Andrew Lloyd Webber met with his new leading lady, Beverley Knight, who will star in the composer’s musical Cats, playing the role of Grizabella. Returning to the London Palladium from 23 October 2015, Lloyd Webber’s acclaimed new production of Cats will run for a strictly limited 11-week season until 2 January 2016. Based on T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, Cats returned to the […]
Cats – Blackpool Opera House
Cats continues at Blackpool Opera House until 5 September (no shows 4–9 August). Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ It’s become known locally as ‘the Mamma Mia! effect’. When the feelgood hit musical set up shop last summer at Blackpool Opera House it was as if the wheel – or at least the showbusiness […]
Beverley Knight to star as Grizabella in Cats at the London Palladium
Beverley Knight is to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking musical Cats to play the role of Grizabella. Returning to the London Palladium from 23 October 2015, Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking musical will run for a ten-week season until 2 January 2016. Tickets are from £20 with top price seats at £59.50 and children’s tickets at half price for Monday to Thursday performances. Beverley Knight said: “To be […]
Elaine Paige in Conversation – The Oak Room at The Hospital Club
Elaine Paige was In Conversation at The Oak Room at The Hospital Club, London. Last night at The Hospital Club, Elaine Paige continued to entertain audiences with her charm, infectious laugh and stories from a fantastic career. As part of a celebration of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts’ 70th anniversary, three of the Academy’s associates […]
Sunny Afternoon big winner at Olivier Awards 2015
The Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden was the setting for the 39th Laurence Olivier Awards. The star-studded event was hosted by Lenny Henry and sponsored by MasterCard, who rolled out the red carpet to welcome the great and the good from the West End theatre scene. The ceremony opened with music from Katie […]
Kerry Ellis and Brian May release new single on 13 April
‘One Voice’ is a brand new recording by Brian May and Kerry Ellis, just completed and being rushed for release on Monday 13 April. The video of Brian and Kerry’s performance of the song is already available to be viewed at May’s Official YouTube channel (see below). Announcing the release, May says: “This is probably the fastest […]
Cats set for summer in Blackpool
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking 2015 Olivier Award nominated musical Cats is to return to Blackpool direct from its successful season at the London Palladium. The show will run at the Blackpool Opera House for a strictly limited eight-week run from 9 July and the Blackpool performances will be the only place theatregoers can see Cats north of London […]
Olivier Awards 2015 – Memphis the Musical and Beautiful lead nominations
New productions Memphis the Musical and Beautiful – The Carole King Musical lead the nominations for individual productions, receiving nine and eight nods respectively, at the Olivier Awards 2015 with MasterCard. The nominations were announced today (Monday 9 March) by actors James McAvoy and Lesley Manville. Among the shows’ nominations are those for the MasterCard Best New Musical Award, where the […]
Interview – Tiffany Graves having a gigglefest on tour with The Producers
Actress and singer TIFFANY GRAVES is playing Ulla in the new UK tour of The Producers (based on Mel Brooks’ beloved movie), alongside comedian Jason Manford, as timid accountant Leo Bloom, and Cory English (reprising his role as Max Bialystock). Also in a high profile cast are David Bedella, Louie Spence, Ross Noble and Phill Jupitus (the latter two share a role at […]
Cats – London Palladium
Cats is booking at the London Palladium until 25 April 2015. Star rating: 4 stars **** While I appreciate the position that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats – famously inspired by T.S Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats – holds in musical theatre history (the originality of its concept and the special place it has in many a theatregoer’s heart), […]
Interview – Kerry Ellis prepares to play Grizabella in Cats at the London Palladium
KERRY ELLIS will join the cast of Cats at the London Palladium to play the role of Grizabella from 9 February 2015, taking over from Nicole Scherzinger. Based on T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the original creative team – director Trevor Nunn, associate director and choreographer Gillian Lynne, designer John Napier and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber – have reunited to bring Cats back to the West End. Due to […]
Kerry Ellis and Lee Mead join The Night of Electric Voices line-up
Kerry Ellis, who takes over from Nicole Scherzinger as Grizabella in the current West End production of Cats, will feature in The Night of Electric Voices on Sunday 1 March at the London Coliseum. She will be joined by Casualty actor and winner of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Any Dream Will Do, Lee Mead, as well as many stars of the West End and Broadway. The […]
Kerry Ellis replaces Nicole Scherzinger in extended run of Cats
Kerry Ellis will join the cast of Cats at the London Palladium to play Grizabella from 9 February 2015, taking over from Nicole Scherzinger who continues in the role until 7 February as previously announced. Due to public demand, the run of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record breaking show has now been extended to 25 April 2015. More than 100,000 new tickets for sale have now gone on […]
Musical Theatre 2014 – a reflection – what was your favourite?
From I Can’t Sing! and Urinetown in early 2014 to the recently opened Cats and City of Angels, here’s an overview of UK Musical Theatre 2014. Can you see your favourites? DECEMBER: City of Angels – Donmar Warehouse Josie Rourke’s wonderfully vibrant staging injects a whole new lease of life into a show that has never […]
Cats – London Palladium
Cats is booking at the London Palladium Booking until 28 February. It is 12 years since Cats departed the West End, and John Napier’s rubbish-tip turned its last revolve at the New London Theatre. Now it is back, minus the revolving stage, but with a set that spills out into the stalls and the circle, through which Spandex-clad dancers […]
Nicole Scherzinger makes theatrical stage debut in Cats
Last night (11 December 2014) at the London Palladium Nicole Scherzinger made her theatrical stage debut as Grizabella in the musical Cats as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking show returned to the West End for a limited run. Based on T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the original creative team – director Trevor Nunn, associate director and choreographer Gillian Lynne, designer John Napier and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber – were reunited […]
Cats at the London Palladium – full cast revealed
As previously announced, Nicole Scherzinger will make her West End stage debut as Grizabella in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking show Cats. The musical returns to the West End for a strictly limited run at the London Palladium from 6 December 2014 (press night is on 11 December). Based on T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the original creative team – director Trevor Nunn, associate director and […]
Elaine Paige in Concert – Royal Albert Hall, London
Elaine Paige in Concert (50th Anniversary Farewell Tour) at the Royal Albert Hall, London. It seems strange to imagine but to anybody under the age of 20, Elaine Paige is probably more regarded as a Sunday afternoon radio presenter than as a musical theatre star. Certainly her presence on the Radio 2 show has given musical theatre a […]
