Now The Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has announced a fresh production of his global 80s hit CATS next summer.
Set to the poems in T.S Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the original production opened in London in 1981 and ran for 21 years.
The show that gave us timeless hits such as Memory also played all over the world and was turned into a 2019 film starring Taylor Swift and Idris Elba.
The original production featured choreography by the late Gillian Lynne, but the Open Air theatre’s artistic director Drew McOnie – who has an Olivier award for best choreography for In The Heights, and another nomination for Jesus Christ Superstar – will bring fresh moves when he directs and choreographs the new production.
Lloyd Webber’s well known score, which also includes Old Deuteronomy, Jellicle Ball and Macavity The Mystery Cat, follows the strays and rebels of London who gather under the Jellicle moon hoping to become the chosen one.
Public booking for the seven week run at the Regent’s Park theatre opens to members on October 23 and to the general public on October 28.
Following the London run the production will undertake a major UK tour until July 2027.
The venue has a stellar track record of staging musicals under previous director Timothy Sheader including a hit production of Fiddler on The Roof.
McOnie’s debut season as artistic director in 2025 was much praised including his revival of Brigadoon.
He will announce his full 2026 season in January.
CATS runs July 25-September 12, 2026. Further details and tickets from www.openairtheatre.com
