Put your paws together for the purrfect and fabulous feline miaow-usical CATS

With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the record-breaking show is based on T. S Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.

The story centres around a tribe of cats known as the Jellicles, who meet at the Jellicle Ball on one special night of the year.

At the Jellicle Ball, their wise and benevolent leader Old Deuteronomy makes ‘the Jellicle choice’ and announces which one of the cats will be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life.

Music, dance and verse fuse together in an enchanting blend of fantasy, drama and romance.

Cats is directed by Trevor Nunn, with choreography by Gillian Lynne and set and costume design by John Napier. Re-creating the direction and choreography for the tour is Chrissie Cartwright.

Including one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most memorable musical scores, spectacular set design, extraordinary costumes and stunning choreography, Cats is a uniquely magical musical.

Even if you haven’t seen the show before, you’ll recognise some of the musical numbers such as Memory which has been recorded by more than 150 different artists, including Barbra Streisand and Barry Manilow.

Cats opened at the New London Theatre in 1981 and played almost 9,000 performances, winning an Olivier Award for Best Musical and seven Tony Awards.

In its latest reincarnation, Cats stars Joanna Ampil as Grizabella, Ben Palmer as Munkustrap, Oliver Savile as Rum Tum Tugger and Joseph Poulton as Mistoffelees. It’s been seen by over 50 million people - if you’re not one of them, make sure you catch it at Milton Keynes Theatre.

By Connie Primmer