Following the end of the limited run at the Palladium in January 2016, "Cats" began a UK / European Tour, starting in Manchester at the end of January 2016. The set uses the number plate "NAP 13R".
The production toured the UK, as well as engagements in Italy and Switzerland in 2016. In 2017 the same production is scheduled to visit Dubai as well as European venues, with no UK tour dates announced. The production continues to be performed in English.
Production Specifics
January 2016 UK Tour cast
This production uses a new touring set, "NAP 13R", which is somewhat flatter and more readily transportable than the previous UK Tour set "NAP 16". Rather than using a staircase, or "flying saucer", to transport Grizabella to the Heaviside Layer, this production uses a flying harness and she ascends apparently unaided.
In terms of material performed, the 2016 run of this tour followed closely to the Palladium revisions, with Street Cat Tugger, glamorous Grizabella, the Bill Deamer choreographed tap number. The production cut "Pouncival" from the cast list, however used the Pouncival/George costume, as well as two distinct Electra costumes, as swing costumes.
Changes within the 2016 run
Towards the end of 2016 small changes were introduced, including the ensemble echoing Demeter's alarmed cry of "Macavity?!". Similar small changes were introduced to the previous UK Tour as they prepared for the major changes involved in the Palladium production.
Changes for the 2017 run
For the 2017 run, the production title was renamed from "UK/Europe Tour" to "International Tour". Street Cat Tugger was converted to the original Rockstar version and Growltiger's Last Stand was cut completely.
Venues
2016
| City | Theatre | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester, England | Opera House | 30th January - 13th February 2016 |
| Genoa, Italy | Teatro Carlo Felice | 18th February - 21st February 2016 |
| Turin, Italy | Teatro Regio | 25th February - 28th February 2016 |
| Milan, Italy | Teatro degli Arcimboldi | 2nd March - 6th March 2016 |
| Bari, Italy | Teatro Petruzzelli | 10th March - 13th March 2016 |
| Bologna, Italy | Unipol Arena | 17th March - 20th March 2016 |
| Basel, Switzerland | Musical Theater Basel | 19th April - 22nd April 2016 |
| Birmingham, England | Hippodrome | 30th May - 4th June 2016 |
| Ipswich, England | Regent Theatre | 6th June - 11th June 2016 |
| Leeds, England | Grand Theatre | 20th June - 2nd July 2016 |
| Edinburgh, Scotland | Playhouse Theatre | 4th July - 9th July 2016 |
| Liverpool, England | Liverpool Empire | 11th July - 16th July 2016 |
| Southend, England | Cliffs Pavilion | 18th July - 23rd July 2016 |
| Nottingham, England | Theatre Royal | 26th July - 6th August 2016 |
| Southampton, England | Mayflower Theatre | 9th August - 20th August 2016 |
| Eastbourne, England | Congress Theatre | 22nd August - 27th August 2016 |
| Torquay, England | Princess Theatre | 29th August - 3rd September 2016 |
| Stoke on Trent, England | Regent Theatre | 5th September - 10th September 2016 |
| Glasgow, Scotland | Kings Theatre | 13th September - 17th September 2016 |
| Sunderland, England | Sunderland Empire | 19th September - 24th September 2016 |
| Oxford, England | New Theatre | 27th September - 1st October 2016 |
| Sheffield, England | Lyceum Empire | 3rd October - 15th October 2016 |
| Milton Keynes, England | MK Theatre | 24th October - 29th October 2016 |
| Wimbledon, England | New Wimbledon | 7th November - 12th November 2016 |
| Budapest, Hungary | SYMA Event Centre | 17th November - 19th November 2016 |
2017
| City | Theatre | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai, UAE | Dubai Opera | 16th January - 28th January 2017 |
| Doha, Qatar | Qatar National Convention Center | 1st February - 4th February |
| Kuwait | Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre | 9th February - 12th February 2017 |
| Antwerp, Belgium | Koningen Elizabethzaal | 29th March - 17th April 2017 |
| Lausanne, Switzerland | Théâtre de Beaulieu | 25th April - 7th May 2017 |
| Sofia, Bulgaria | National Palace of Culture | 11th May - 12th May 2017 |
| Munich, Germany | Deutsches Theater | 18th July - 6th August 2017 |
| Berlin, Germany | Admiralspalast | 9th August - 19th August 2017 |
| Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Alte Oper | 23rd August - 27th August 2017 |
| Baden-Baden, Germany | Festspielhaus | 29th August - 3rd September 2017 |
| Bremen, Germany | Musical Theater | 5th September - 10th September 2017 |
| Duisburg, Germany | Theater am Marientor | 12th September - 17th September 2017 |
| Gothenburg, Sweden | Scandinavium | 29th September - 30th September 2017 |
| Stockholm, Sweden | Ericsson Globe | 6th October - 7th October 2017 |
| Malmö, Sweden | Malmö Arena | 13th October - 14th October 2017 |
| Copenhagen, Denmark | Royal Arena | 25th October - 29th October 2017 |
| Horsens, Denmark | Forum Horsens | 1st November - 5th November 2017 |
Ticket Information
Cast
Initial cast list announcements listed Rebecca Parker as playing Bombalurina, however from the first performance the role was covered by Megan Armstrong, initially a swing in the production.
| Character | Performer |
|---|---|
| Admetus / Macavity | Javier Cid |
| Alonzo / Rumpus Cat | Josh Andrews |
| Asparagus / Bustopher Jones | Greg Castiglioni |
| Bill Bailey | Aaron Hunt |
| Bombalurina | Megan Armstrong |
| Carbucketty | Enric Marimon |
| Cassandra | Danielle Cato |
| Coricopat | James Titchener |
| Demeter | Helen Turner |
| Grizabella (Jan - Mar) | Anita Louise Combe |
| Grizabella (Mar-April) | Joanna Ampil |
| Grizabella (May onwards) | Marianne Benedict |
| Jellylorum | Celia Graham |
| Jemima | Phoebe Lewis |
| Jennyanydots | Lucinda Shaw |
| Mistoffelees | Shiv Rabheru |
| Mungojerrie | Joe Henry |
| Munkustrap | Matt Krzan |
| Old Deuteronomy | Kevin Stephen-Jones |
| Rumpelteazer | Emily Langham |
| Rum Tum Tugger | Marcquelle Ward |
| Skimbleshanks | Lee Greenaway |
| Tantomile | Gabrielle Cocca |
| Victoria | Sophia McAvoy |
| Swing | Lydia Bannister |
| Swing | Lucy Brushett |
| Swing | Alice Cornwell |
| Swing | Connor McAllister |
| Swing | Dane Quixall |
| Swing | Oliver Ramsdale |
| Swing | Guy Salim |
Hannah Kenna Thomas returned to the show to cover as Victoria for several shows in September 2016.
October 24th onwards: Admetus - Ashley-Jordan Packer, Alonzo - Fletcher Dobinson
