Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has released first look rehearsal images for its brand-new production of CATS, directed and choreographed by Artistic Director Drew McOnie.
The newly released photographs, credited to Mark Senior, provide an early look at the company as rehearsals continue for the highly anticipated revival, which runs from 25 July to 19 September 2026.
Featuring music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot, the production transports audiences from Euston station to Victoria Grove, where the strays and rebels of London gather beneath the Jellicle moon in the hope of being chosen.
The production features a legendary score including “Old Deuteronomy”, “Macavity: The Mystery Cat”, “The Jellicle Ball” and the chart-topping hit “Memory”.
McOnie’s new staging brings together a cast led by Melanie La Barrie as Old Deuteronomy, Rachael Wooding as Grizabella, Gary Wilmot as Gus, Millie O’Connell as Demeter, Jaydon Vijn as Rum Tum Tugger and Diante Lodge as Macavity.
The wider company includes Fin Adams, Carla Bertran, Elliot Broadfoot, Grace Burrows, Matthew Caputo, Josie Chambers-Sims, Briana Craig, Katie Dunsden, Joshua-Samuel Freeman, Regan Garcia, Aaron Jenkins, Hannah Joseph, Taziva-Faye Katsande, Owen McHugh, Danny Nattrass, Andrew Parfitt, Charlotte Riby, Nathan Rigg, Lucie-Mae Sumner, Jack Wilcox, Jet Yau, Taela Yeomans-Brown and Patricia Zhou.
The creative team includes set, costume and wigs designer Sami Fendall, lighting designer Jessica Hung Han Yun, sound designer Adam Fisher, musical supervisor Alex Parker and musical director Geraint Owen.
The production opens on 6 August 2026, following previews from 25 July, and is expected to be one of the major musical theatre events of the summer season.
“Another day is dawning.”
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?
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
