Few musicals have achieved quite the same iconic status as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats. With its multi-award-winning history, instantly recognisable music and reputation for extraordinary choreography, it’s a production that has captivated audiences for decades.
Arriving at Palace Theatre Manchester, I was particularly excited to experience Cats for the first time. Not only was I unfamiliar with the musical, but this was also my first Andrew Lloyd Webber production, so naturally, I had high hopes. And when it comes to the visual spectacle, Cats certainly delivers.
If there’s one thing Cats gets absolutely right, it’s the spectacle. The choreography is breathtaking, combining graceful movement with an almost hypnotic quality. Paired with the intricate costumes, it creates some genuinely beautiful moments on stage. Every movement feels carefully considered, and the physical talent required from the cast is extraordinary.
The production quality is equally impressive. The lighting is particularly effective, with glistening moonlight illuminating the stage for most of the performance. Combined with dramatic fire effects and atmospheric sound, it creates a visually captivating world that feels both mysterious and magical.
It’s artistic, captivating and, at times, genuinely mesmerising. Whatever your thoughts on the musical itself, there’s no denying the talent and creativity involved in bringing this production to life.
A talented cast with some magical moments
Rachel Wooding is breathtaking as Grizabella, delivering a wonderfully delicate and emotional performance. Her rendition of Memory is undoubtedly one of the evening’s highlights, and a moment that truly showcases the beauty of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music.
Wooding handles the character with such grace, allowing the emotion of the song to speak for itself. It’s a beautiful performance and one that will undoubtedly stay with audiences long after the curtain falls.
Elsewhere, Jaydon Vijn brings immense stage presence to Rum Tum Tugger, injecting plenty of energy and personality into the production. Elliot Broadfoot is equally enjoyable as Gus and Bustopher Jones, bringing humour and charm to both characters.
Another standout is Jet Yau as Mr Mistoffelees. His performance during Magical Mr. Mistoffelees is fantastic to watch, combining remarkable technical ability with the kind of theatrical magic that makes you appreciate the talent on stage.
These performances are among the production’s greatest strengths, particularly during a second act that I found considerably more enjoyable. Between Memory, Gus: The Theatre Cat and Magical Mr. Mistoffelees, there’s a wonderful collection of moments that showcase the musical at its best.
Beautiful to watch, but where's the story?
For all its visual brilliance, however, Cats is a musical that I struggled to connect with on a storytelling level.
I appreciate that it isn’t intended to follow a conventional narrative, instead introducing audiences to a collection of feline characters through individual musical numbers. But for that concept to work, those numbers need to be consistently entertaining. Unfortunately, I didn’t always find that to be the case.
While some characters bring welcome humour and personality, others feel less memorable, and several musical numbers lack the excitement or substance needed to maintain momentum.
There are also some surprisingly anticlimactic moments. Dramatic thunder, lightning and sound effects build anticipation, suggesting something significant is about to happen, only for very little to follow. Even the much-anticipated arrival of Macavity feels somewhat underwhelming. After all the build-up, his appearance is relatively brief, leaving me wondering whether more could have been made of the character.
In terms of the writing itself, there’s something inherently ridiculous about a musical featuring singing and dancing cats, and I genuinely think the production could benefit from embracing that absurdity a little more. There are moments of humour that work wonderfully, but much of the show feels surprisingly sophisticated and restrained, almost as though it’s reluctant to embrace its own silliness.
After all, how can the same musical give us the emotional brilliance of Memory alongside lyrics such as “So first, your memory I’ll jog, and say: a cat is not a dog”? It’s an amusing contrast, but for a first-time watcher, I just didn’t quite get it.
Of course, a musical doesn’t necessarily need a complicated storyline to be entertaining. But without a particularly engaging narrative, I found myself relying heavily on the choreography and performances to maintain my interest.
Final thoughts
There’s no denying that Cats is an extraordinary production from a technical and artistic perspective. The choreography is exceptional, the staging is beautiful, and the cast delivers some genuinely memorable performances.
The second act, in particular, offers several wonderful moments, reminding audiences why this musical has become so celebrated. However, while I can appreciate the artistry behind Cats, the musical itself wasn’t entirely to my taste. I found the storytelling difficult to engage with, and some of the musical numbers lacked the impact I’d hoped for.
That said, I can absolutely understand its appeal, particularly for audiences who already know and love the show. There’s a distinctive style to Cats, and this production certainly does justice to its visual reputation.
Ultimately, it’s a production I can admire more than I can personally enjoy, but one that offers plenty for fans of spectacular choreography and theatrical artistry.
Cats is running at the Palace Theatre until 21 November 2026. Book your tickets now.
**Tickets gifted in exchange for an honest review
Kelsey Haslam is the founding editor of Magenta Adventures Travel Publication and a freelance travel writer with a focus on community-based travel, culture-led experiences, and theatre tourism. She is passionate about spotlighting lesser-known destinations and connecting travellers with meaningful, human-centred stories.
Her published work includes destination features and luxury hotel reviews for leading travel outlets such as A Luxury Travel Blog, Beau Monde Traveler, and Luxury Lifestyle Magazine.
Explore more about Kelsey’s background on the About Page.
