CATS marks the third touring musical to make its final stop in Brisbane, following on from Annie and Jesus Christ Superstar. Brisbane musical theatre lovers are always happy to be lucky last, and once again, the opening night audience welcomed the show with much enthusiasm.
The Scoop has followed the CATS tour since it opened in Sydney last year, tracking its journey through Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne. We’ve chatted with Gabriyel Thomas playing Grizabella and Lucy Maunder playing Jellylorum. Through interviews and video footage, I’ve felt a connection to this cast.
So it was a thrill to finally see them live, from what might just be the best seats I’ve ever had at QPAC’s Lyric Theatre.
Based on T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats and set to music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, CATS first leapt onto the stage in 1981 at the New London Theatre.
The venue was later renamed the Gillian Lynne Theatre, honouring the celebrated choreographer whose movement language helped define the show. The original production ran for almost 21 years, with close to 9,000 performances and multiple Best Musical awards.
Since then, CATS has been presented in over 50 countries, translated into 23 languages and has been seen by over 81 million people. CATS played for 18 years on Broadway and won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
You can’t really call yourself a true musical theatre fan unless you’ve seen it at least once.
CATS defies the conventions of musical theatre, unfolding not as a traditional story but as a glimpse into one extraordinary night with the Jellicle cats. At the heart of their gathering, the Jellicle Ball, one cat will be chosen by their elder, Old Deuteronomy. That cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a new Jellicle life.
For the Brisbane season, resident director and choreographer Amy Berrisford is pouncing onto the stage as Demeter. She pairs with Mia Dabkowski-Chandler in an Act Two standout that’s been stuck in my head all day: the bluesy Macavity. Emily Casey steps into the role of Cassandra, instantly drawing the eye and giving off hairless-cat vibes in her sleek brown Lycra costume.
Each cat boasts a distinct costume and characterisation, and taking it all in feels like a visual overload in the best way. There would be new details to discover on every return visit. (Keep an eye out for the cute Siamese twin cats played by Sarah Bourke and Joshua Gordon.) Claudia Hastings is also unmissable as Victoria the White Cat, gliding across the stage with balletic grace.
Jarrod Draper as Munkustrap serves as our narrator, welcoming us into the Jellicle Ball and guiding us through the magic. Draper has a strong presence and voice to match. His velvety operatic tones remind us why he’s bound for Phantom next month.
CATS is rightly celebrated as a dance-forward show, but the collective vocal strength of this cast deserves equal praise. As Old Deuteronomy, classical crossover artist Mark Vincent commands the stage. He comes into his own in full operatic splendour by the show’s conclusion.
Act One highlights include Leigh Archer as Old Gumbie Cat, leading the company in a show-stopping number choreographed by Bill Deamer. No one told me there were tap dancing cockroaches in CATS!
As Skimbleshanks, Tom Davis leads the company through a lively Act Two routine, complete with a makeshift steam train. It’s an ingenious piece of work from the design team.
The undisputed standouts, however, are Tim Haskayne as Mr Mistoffelees and Gabriyel Thomas as Grizabella. Both explode onto the stage in Act Two, though Thomas first gives us a devastating teaser of Memory to close Act One. Have tissues ready when the lights come up.
Haskayne’s spectacular dancing is matched only by his eye-catching black velvet, bejewelled costume. His Mistoffelees will leave you wanting more. Thomas’s Memory is raw, deep, and guaranteed to tear at the heart. Special mention also to Ella Fitzpatrick as Jemima, who provides haunting backup support.
Anyone who grew up in the 80s listening to musicals on cassette tape will feel this song land hard, the melody stirring emotion and nostalgia. Memory sits comfortably in the musical theatre hall of fame alongside iconic numbers like I Dreamed a Dream.
The technical elements are just as impressive as the performances onstage. Greg Pink’s sound design is crisp and immersive, allowing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score to soar while still letting every lyric land clearly. Under music director Paul White’s baton, the band drives the show, giving the production real momentum from the opening bars.
Alan Walker’s set stays true to John Napier’s design, featuring a moonlit junkyard complete with clever hideaways for the Jellicles. Howard Eaton’s lighting, following David Hersey’s original vision, shifts seamlessly from gritty industrial tones to surreal, dreamlike washes. Effects in complete blackout moments add another layer of magic.
Napier’s costumes, supervised by Billy Roache, Karen Dawson’s make-up and Jenny Dean’s wigs, supervised by Kellie Ritchie and Michele Skeete, all serve to elevate the Jellicles’ 80s aesthetic. Leg warmers will live on forever through this iconic costuming.
As the final tour stop, Brisbane is getting CATS at full strength. It’s a slick, high-energy production that looks, sounds and moves beautifully. If you’ve ever loved this musical, or if you’re curious to see why it became a global phenomenon, this is a purrrfect farewell.
CATS the Musical runs in Brisbane until 22 February 2026 at the Lyric Theatre QPAC as the final stop on its national tour.
Tickets: https://www.qpac.com.au/whats-on/2026/cats
Website: https://catsthemusical.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/catsthemusicalau/
Photo credits: Daniel Boud
