Hit Musical 'Cats' comes to Dublin

ONE of the longest-running shows in both West End and Broadway history, Cats will arrive at Dublin’s Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on Aug 21.

Based on TS Eliot’s delightful creation for children, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking adaptation is directed by Trevor Nunn, with choreography by Gillian Lynne and set and costume design by John Napier. It first opened in the West End way back in 1981 — that’s an unbelievable 34 years ago — and then, with the same creative team, on Broadway in 1982.

It has won numerous awards, including Best Musical at both the Laurence Olivier and the Tony Awards. The London production ran for 21 years, and the Broadway show for 18, both setting records. It’s a spectacular example of what can be done when a composer/creator of vision (in this case, Andrew Lloyd Webber) decides to take an old classic and recreate it for a new audience.