CATS will return to Oxford next year as part of a major new UK tour, with the iconic musical set to play New Theatre Oxford from 23 to 27 March 2027.
The production, presented by Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, comes direct from Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and marks the return of the Jellicle tribe to Oxford for the first time in more than a decade.
For local theatre-goers, it is a notable return. CATS last played New Theatre Oxford in 2016, meaning this will be the first chance in more than 10 years for audiences in the city to see the musical on the venue’s stage.
A new production of a musical theatre classic
Based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats and featuring music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, CATS remains one of the most recognisable musicals ever written.
The story follows the Jellicle cats on the one special night of the year when they gather for the Jellicle Ball, and their wise leader Old Deuteronomy chooses one cat to ascend to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a new life.
The score includes some of musical theatre’s best-known songs, including Memory, Jellicle Ball, Macavity: The Mystery Cat and Old Deuteronomy.
What is different about this new CATS?
This is not a revival of the original staging but a brand-new production directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie, Artistic Director of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
Producers say the show will bring a fresh vision to the musical while retaining the elements that have made it a global favourite, including large-scale choreography, striking costumes and its famous score.
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.”
Andrew Lloyd Webber said he was excited to see “a totally new production of CATS back on the stage where it belongs”.
Why CATS still matters
Since opening in London in 1981, CATS has become one of the longest-running musicals in theatre history.
It has been performed in more than 54 countries, translated into 23 languages and seen by more than 77 million people worldwide. The original West End production ran for 21 years, while the Broadway production ran for 18 years and won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
That history gives the Oxford dates added weight. For many theatre-goers, CATS is both a classic title and a major touring event.
Oxford date for theatre fans to note
The Oxford run is short, lasting five days only, which is likely to make it one of the more in-demand musical bookings in the city’s 2027 calendar.
With the production arriving after a long absence from Oxford, and with the strength of the title likely to appeal across generations, early demand is expected to be high.
Creative team
The production is directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie.
The wider creative team includes:
- Sami Fendall – Set, Costume and Wigs Designer
- Jessica Hung Han Yun – Lighting Designer
- Adam Fisher – Sound Designer
- Guy Common – Makeup Designer
- Will Burton – Casting Director
- Alex Parker – Musical Supervisor
Performance details
| Detail | Information |
| Show | CATS |
| Venue | New Theatre Oxford |
| Dates | 23–27 March 2027 |
| Presented by | Michael Harrison for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals |
| Based on | Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot |
| Music | Andrew Lloyd Webber |
Full Cats UK tour dates
| Dates | Venue | City |
| 20–24 Oct 2026 | New Theatre | Hull |
| 27 Oct–7 Nov 2026 | Hippodrome | Birmingham |
| 10–21 Nov 2026 | Palace Theatre | Manchester |
| 24–28 Nov 2026 | Bristol Hippodrome | Bristol |
| 1–5 Dec 2026 | Venue Cymru | Llandudno |
| 8–27 Dec 2026 | Theatre Royal | Glasgow |
| 6–16 Jan 2027 | Royal Concert Hall | Nottingham |
| 19–23 Jan 2027 | Marlowe Theatre | Canterbury |
| 26–30 Jan 2027 | Empire Theatre | Sunderland |
| 9–13 Feb 2027 | His Majesty’s Theatre | Aberdeen |
| 16–27 Feb 2027 | Theatre Royal | Norwich |
| 2–13 Mar 2027 | Grand Opera House | Belfast |
| 23–27 Mar 2027 | New Theatre | Oxford |
| 30 Mar–10 Apr 2027 | Mayflower Theatre | Southampton |
| 20–24 Apr 2027 | Edinburgh Playhouse | Edinburgh |
| 27 Apr–1 May 2027 | Alhambra Theatre | Bradford |
| 5–15 May 2027 | Empire Theatre | Liverpool |
| 18–22 May 2027 | New Victoria Theatre | Woking |
| 25–29 May 2027 | Wales Millennium Centre | Cardiff |
| 1–5 Jun 2027 | Milton Keynes Theatre | Milton Keynes |
| 8–19 Jun 2027 | Theatre Royal | Newcastle |
For more information or to book tickets, visit the New Theatre Oxford website.
