In the realm of recycled musicals, CATS is probably one of the more acceptable. And it does have that literary cachet based, as it is, on the work of T.S. Eliot, who is considered by many as the 20th century’s greatest poet.
The musical is based on Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats and was set to music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
There are those among us who are still waiting for a musical version of Eliot’s The Waste Land. We may have to wait awhile. CATS is one of those musicals with a solid literary basis and is in good company with shows such as Les Miserables (based on the work of Victor Hugo) and The Phantom of the Opera, based on the novel by Gaston Leroux.
CATS fans will be thrilled to hear of its return. The new Australian tour will open this week at its original home, Theatre Royal Sydney, before playing at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide, from September, Crown Theatre Perth from November and at Hamer Hall Arts Centre, Melbourne, from December.
Brisbane has just been announced at the tail end (pardon the pun) of the tour in February 2026, playing QPAC. This is all part of a 40th anniversary Australian tour.
In July, 1985, the ground-breaking musical production had its Australian premiere in Sydney, heralding the era of the British mega-musical in Australia.
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‘Australia has an enduring love for CATS and it’s time to let the memory live again’
“CATS is a legendary show that I’ve admired for over 40 years,” says producer John Frost. “A sparkling fusion of music, dance and verse, it was revolutionary when it first opened and enticed new audiences into the world of musical theatre.
“I’m thrilled to bring the original production back to Australia to celebrate its 40th anniversary, and I know audiences will love to revisit one of their favourite shows. Australia has an enduring love for CATS and it’s time to let the memory live again.”
The coveted role of Grizabella, the former glamour cat ostracised by the Jellicles, will be played by Gabriyel Thomas, who recently starred as Michelle and sometimes in the lead role of Deloris Van Cartier in the Australian tour of Sister Act.
Audience favourite Todd McKenney will play the dual roles of Bustopher Jones and Asparagus, the Theatre Cat. Most recently seen as The Wizard in Wicked and as Felix Unger opposite Shane Jacobson in The Odd Couple, McKenney played Tumblebrutus in the original Melbourne season of CATS from 1987 to 1988, early in his stage career. He is thrilled to revisit the show almost four decades later.
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Todd McKenney, Leigh Archer and Mark Vincent and
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Des Flanagan and Gabriyel Thomas
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CATS international cast
Leigh Archer returns to CATS as the kind, motherly Jennyanydots, also known among the tribe as the “Gumbie Cat”. Archer played Demeter in the 1992-93 Australian and Asian tour of CATS, and has since performed in Strictly Ballroom, West Side Story and Moonshadow.
Classical performer Mark Vincent returns to the musical theatre world as Old Deuteronomy, the wise and beloved patriarch of the Jellicle tribe. One of Australia’s most celebrated classical crossover artists, Vincent’s career spans 10 albums, international tours and performances at some of the world’s most prestigious venues.
The rebellious cat Rum Tum Tugger, who likes to cause mischief among the Jellicle tribe, will be played by Des Flanagan.
Most recently seen as Roxie Hart in the sold-out national tour of Chicago and the boutique musical No Love Songs, Lucy Maunder is taking on the role of Jellylorum, who watches out for the kittens and takes care of Asparagus.
WAPPA graduate Jarrod Draper has been cast as Munkustrap, the tabby tomcat who is the storyteller and protector of the Jellicle tribe.
CATS has been captivating audiences around the globe since it opened at the New London Theatre (now known as the Gillian Lynne) in 1981, where it played for 21 record-breaking years and almost 9000 performances, winning both the Olivier and Evening Standard awards for Best Musical.
Since then, CATS has been presented in more than 50 countries, translated into 23 languages and has been seen by more than 81 million people worldwide. On Broadway, CATS played for 18 years and won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
The musical tells the story of the Jellicle cat tribe. On one special night of the year, all Jellicle cats meet at the Jellicle Ball where Old Deuteronomy, their wise and benevolent leader, makes the Jellicle choice and announces which of them will go up to “The Heaviside Layer” and be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life.
The timeless musical score includes the hit song Memory, which has been recorded by more than 150 artists including Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Nicole Scherzinger, Johnny Mathis, Liberace and Barry Manilow.
CATS plays QPAC’s Lyric Theatre in February, 2026. Waitlist for Brisbane tickets at catsthemusical.com.au