Andrew Llyod Webber’s Cats Musical in Auckland

Last updated on 8 January 2025

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“Jellicle cats are queen of the nights”

I spent my childhood listening to the Cats Original Soundtrack on cassette tape, and when that wasn’t happening, my sister and I were watching it on VHS. Often on repeat.

Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice took the T.S. Eliot book, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, and turned it into the most wonderful musical ever. Despite the fact that it’s based on a book, like the poems in the Eliot collection, the scenes and songs in the musical are stand alone. There’s not really an over arching plot or story line, just a whole bunch of catchy songs about spectacular cats (there’s a minor plot that sort of carries through, as the cats tell their stories to Old Deuteronomy so he can choose who gets to go to the Heaviside Layer). It’s this reason that quite a few people I know don’t really enjoy Cats. But I love it, and I will advocate for it for ever.

Last weekend we headed to watch the National Youth Theatre Company and Auckland Live put on Cats at Aotea Centre here in Auckland. And it was excellent. The NYTC did a great job, as did the horde of kids under about 12 who were on and off stage on occasion – super cute!

Special shout outs to the performers who played Jennanydots, Rumpleteazer, Mungojerrie, Skimbleshanks, and Munkustrap.

Unfortunately, the show was only for a few days, and has now ended, but if Cats ever comes to a theatre near you, then it is a very fun night out.

Did you manage to see Cats in Auckland? Or perhaps you’ve seen it elsewhere? What’s your favourite song/cat?