Past Shows
Cats
Pieter Toerien Productions @ The ArtscapeA NEW PRODUCTION of one of the world’s most loved musicals, with an all-South African cast. Music by ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER. Based on “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” by T.S. ELIOT.
| Show Description | Reviews | Cast |
Show Description
Eight years ago Pieter Toerien presented the original South African hit production of CATS at Artscape here in Cape Town and at the State Theatre in Pretoria. Never before seen before in this county, the show brought all of the excitement and glamour of Broadway and the West End to local audiences.
It was a groundbreaking production, with an all-South African cast that went on to tour internationally for four years after the Pretoria season. Playing to capacity audiences in Beijing, Taipei, Shanghai, Seoul, Athens, Doha, Beirut, Greece, Lebanon and Scandanavia, the production "fast-tracked South Africa's local and export musical theatre industry." (Adrienne Sichel - Cape Argus, Star TONIGHT!).
CATS first opened on the West End stage in 1981 and then on Broadway in 1982. The London production ran for twenty-one years and the Broadway production for eighteen, in both cases setting historical long-run records, as CATS became one of the world's best known and best loved musicals.
Based on T.S. Elliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats", with award-winning music composed by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, CATS was originally produced by Cameron Mackintosh and directed by Trevor Nunn with choreography by Gillian Lynne. It has since been presented in over 20 countries and in about 250 cities worldwide!
The 2001 season was sold out at every performance, and there were many people who missed the chance to experience the magic of CATS.
Pieter Toerien is therefore very happy to announce that CATS returns this year to grace the Montecasino Teatro and Artscape stages, with a new generation of talented triple-threat (actor, singer, dancer) South African performers, eager to make CATS bigger and better than ever!
So to everyone who missed it last time, or who just simply wants to experience this magical and innovative musical again, now is your chance.
"Looking at the photographs again and listening to the music, which I absolutely adore, it feels like welcoming back a great friend whom I have missed!" Pieter Toerien
