LatestMusicalReviewsCats UK Tour

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS begins a new chapter as Drew McOnie’s brand-new production launches its UK and Ireland tour at Theatre Royal Plymouth. Following its record-breaking season at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, the Jellicles are heading across the country, but does this reimagined CATS still have the magic of the original?

Copyright: Banner and UK Tour images by Mark Senior

The Jellicle Cats are back, and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary musical has landed at Theatre Royal Plymouth to launch its UK tour. With breathtaking choreography, incredible vocals and a rendition of Memory that sends shivers down your spine, there is plenty to purr about.

There are some musicals that really shouldn’t work on paper, and CATS is probably right at the top of that list. A group of cats gather together for one extraordinary night, introduce themselves through song and dance, and wait to discover which lucky feline will be chosen to ascend to the Heaviside Layer and begin a new life. There isn’t much of a traditional storyline, and at times it is all completely bonkers. But more than four decades after Andrew Lloyd Webber first introduced audiences to the Jellicle Cats, there is still something rather special about this musical.

Now CATS is back on the road, with Drew McOnie’s production arriving at Theatre Royal Plymouth following its summer run at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. And while this latest incarnation might not quite reach purr-fection in every department, there is absolutely no denying the talent on display. The choreography is extraordinary, the vocals are superb and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s magnificent score sounds every bit as wonderful as you remember.

CATS UK tour delivers extraordinary choreography

If there is one thing that really stands out about this production, it is the choreography. Drew McOnie has created something quite remarkable, with a company of performers who seem to possess an almost unbelievable amount of energy. From the opening moments, the stage comes alive with movement, and it barely lets up throughout the evening. The precision, athleticism and sheer stamina required to bring these characters to life is astonishing, with the cast making even the most demanding routines appear almost effortless.

What makes it particularly impressive is that the choreography never feels like movement simply for the sake of it. Every cat has their own personality, and the way the company moves helps establish these characters just as effectively as the songs themselves. There is always something happening, whether it is a spectacular ensemble routine or a smaller moment unfolding at the edge of the stage. The performers remain completely committed to their feline alter egos, and it is this attention to detail that makes the whole thing so entertaining to watch.

The Jellicle Ball is undoubtedly one of the production’s great highlights, bringing the company together for a dazzling display of dance that really does have to be seen to be believed. It is fast, energetic and wonderfully theatrical, showcasing just how talented this cast really is. There are moments when you genuinely don’t know where to look, with so much happening across the stage, but that is all part of the fun. If you’re a fan of dance, this production is worth seeing for the choreography alone.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music remains magnificent

Of course, CATS would be nothing without Andrew Lloyd Webber’s extraordinary score, and hearing these songs performed live is a reminder of just how much wonderful music is packed into this rather unusual show. From the instantly recognisable opening to the playful character numbers and the bigger ensemble moments, the music remains one of the production’s greatest strengths.

The vocals across the company are equally impressive, with the performers balancing the considerable demands of the choreography with some truly wonderful singing. That is no small achievement in a production where the cast are rarely given an opportunity to stand still. The musical numbers are delivered with confidence, personality and plenty of character, ensuring that even those less familiar with the show will find themselves swept up in the world of the Jellicle Cats.

There is a lovely variety to the score, too. One moment you are enjoying something wonderfully silly and playful, and the next you are being reminded just how powerful musical theatre can be when the right voice meets the right song. And in this production, there is one moment that stands head and shoulders above everything else.

A CATS cast packed with standout performances

While the choreography and music are undoubtedly the stars of the show, there are some wonderful individual performances that deserve their moment in the spotlight. Mungojerrie (Danny Nattrass) and Rumpleteazer (Brianna Craig) are an absolute delight, with their mischievous double act providing one of the evening’s most entertaining highlights. Their chemistry, comic timing and extraordinary physicality are flawless, making their number a real joy to watch. It is exactly the sort of performance that reminds you just how much talent is required to bring these feline characters to life.

Old Deuteronomy (Kalisha Amaris) also deserves particular praise. As the wise and respected leader of the Jellicle Cats, the character carries much of the emotional weight of the production, providing a sense of warmth and gravitas among all the mischief and mayhem. Equally impressive is Munkustrap, played by Jack Wilcox, who acts as our guide through this wonderfully peculiar world. It is a role that could easily be overlooked among the bigger musical numbers, but Wilcox holds the entire production together beautifully, providing the thread that connects all these individual stories.

There are plenty of other highlights, too. Skimbleshanks (Aaron Jenkins) the Railway Cat brings a wonderful burst of energy and charm to proceedings, while the magical Mr Mistoffelees provides another standout moment, with a spectacular display of movement and theatrical magic. Both numbers showcase the incredible versatility of this company, and it is difficult not to sit there with a huge smile on your face as the performers throw themselves into every moment.

What is particularly impressive is that this never feels like a production relying on just one or two standout performers. There is real strength across the entire company, and whether they are delivering a big solo number, performing some astonishing choreography or simply prowling around the stage in character, every member of the cast contributes to making this production such an enjoyable experience.

But even among a company packed with standout performances, there is one moment that rises above everything else. And that moment belongs to Grizabella.

Memory provides the undeniable moment of the show

And then there is Memory.

It is one of the most famous songs in musical theatre history, performed countless times by some of the biggest names in the business. It is a song we all know, and one that could easily lose some of its impact through sheer familiarity. But every so often, you hear a performance that reminds you exactly why it became so iconic in the first place.

Louise Dearman‘s performance as Grizabella provides the undeniable moment of the entire evening. Her rendition of Memory is simply breathtaking, with a vocal performance that had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. It is one of those wonderful moments in theatre when a song you have heard a hundred times suddenly feels extraordinary all over again.

There is something incredibly powerful about hearing a voice like that fill a theatre, and Dearman delivers the song with the sort of emotional intensity that makes you forget everything else happening around you. For all the dazzling choreography, energetic ensemble numbers and theatrical spectacle, it is this one performance that stays with you long after the curtain comes down, pinch me, am I dreaming?

Quite simply, it is worth the ticket price for Memory alone.

A production that doesn’t quite hit every mark

For all the brilliance of the performances, there is one area where I couldn’t help feeling a little underwhelmed, and that is the set and costumes. It certainly serves its purpose and provides a workable environment for the Jellicle Cats to inhabit, but I found myself wishing for something with a little more visual impact.

CATS has always been a musical associated with spectacle, and while the choreography certainly delivers that in abundance, the physical staging doesn’t always feel quite as impressive. It is by no means a disaster, and the company makes excellent use of the space available, but I couldn’t help feeling that the production deserved a little more from its surroundings.

That said, it is a relatively small criticism when weighed against everything this incredibly talented company brings to the stage. The music, performances and choreography are more than capable of carrying the evening, and there is certainly no shortage of moments to enjoy.

Is CATS worth seeing on its new UK tour?

CATS has never been a musical for everyone. If you’re looking for a complicated plot, dramatic twists and a traditional story, then a collection of poems about cats set to music probably isn’t going to tick every box. But that has never really been the point. This is a show that asks you to embrace its wonderfully peculiar world, enjoy the music and marvel at the extraordinary performers bringing it all to life.

And this latest production certainly gives audiences plenty to enjoy. Drew McOnie’s choreography is sensational, the vocals are consistently impressive and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score remains as magnificent as ever. The set might not quite live up to the spectacle happening around it, but when you have a company performing at this level, it is difficult not to get swept along by the whole thing.

Above everything else, though, it is that extraordinary performance of Memory that will stay with me. Those hairs-on-the-back-of-your-neck moments are what make live theatre so special, and when a musical can still deliver one more than 40 years after its debut, it must be doing something right.

The Jellicle Cats are back, and while it might not be quite purr-fection, this is one theatrical return that certainly deserves a round of a-paws.

★★★★☆

CATS is at Theatre Royal Plymouth until Saturday 17 October 2026 before continuing its UK and Ireland tour book now for Plymouth or the UK Tour here.

Reviewed: Saturday 10 October 2026, Theatre Royal Plymouth.