A brand-new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s, CATS, will leap into the magical outdoor setting of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in Summer 2026
With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, this production of CATS will run at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre from 25 July – 12 September 2026, directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie.
It will then embark on a major UK tour through to July 2027, opening in Plymouth before visiting Hull, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Llandudno and Glasgow with further venues to be announced.
From Euston station to Victoria Grove, the strays and rebels of London gather under the Jellicle moon in the hope they’ll be the chosen one. And each of them asks, because each of them dares, who will it be?
With a legendary score featuring Old Deuteronomy, Macavity: The Mystery Cat, The Jellicle Ball and the chart-topping hit Memory, this brand-new production of CATS, directed and choreographed by Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Artistic Director Drew McOnie (Brigadoon, Jesus Christ Superstar), is sure to be one of the theatrical events of 2026. Casting and full creative team to be announced.
CATS is one of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history. The show originally premiered at the New London Theatre in 1981, where it played for 21 record-breaking years and almost 9,000 performances. The ground-breaking production was the winner of the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical. In 1983, the Broadway production became the recipient of seven Tony awards including Best Musical. It ran for 18 years.
Since its world premiere, CATS has been presented in over 54 countries, has been translated into 23 languages and has been seen by more than 77 million people worldwide. The Broadway cast recording won a Grammy Award for Best Cast Album. In 2026, CATS will also embark on 2 major international tours, and CATS: The Jellicle Ball will make its Broadway debut at the Broadhurst Theater.
Drew McOnie said: “As for many dancers in the industry, CATS was a transformative experience for me and as a former cast member it’s thrilling to be directing and choreographing this brand-new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical. I can’t wait to share this much-loved piece with a new generation of audiences both in the stunning outdoor setting of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and in theatres across the UK. With the production heading out on tour, we are delighted that it will reach audiences across the country after its London run, continuing our commitment to working with partners – in this case the brilliant Michael Harrison – to ensure our work is seen by as many as possible beyond our home in Regent’s Park.”
Tickets for CATS go on sale to members on 23 October and to general public on 28 October: openairtheatre.com
Additional information about CATS at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Saturday 25 July – Saturday 12 September 2026
Press Night: Thursday 6 August, 7.45pm
Access Performances:
BSL Interpreted: Tuesday 1 September, 7.45pm
Captioned: Friday 4 September, 7.45pm
Audio Described: Saturday 5 September, 2.15pm
Age Recommend: 5+
Tickets from: £15
Theatre Royal Plymouth 6 – 17 October 2026
Hull New Theatre 20 – 24 October 2026
Birmingham Hippodrome 27 Oct -7 November 2026
Palace Theatre Manchester 10 – 21 November 2026
Bristol Hippodrome 24 – 28 November 2026
Venue Cymru Llandudno 1 – 5 December 2026
Theatre Royal Glasgow 8 – 27 December 2026
