Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats starring Elaine Paige to be streamed online

The latest musical to be streamed as part of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Show Must Go On series has been announced today. Audiences will now be able to enjoy the 1999 production of Cats, starring Elaine Paige.

Lloyd Webber will also provide free live commentary alongside the stream, with the composer answering fan-submmitted questions throughout the performance.

Inspired by T. S. Eliot's book titled "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats", the musical follows a group of Jellicle cats who wish to ascend to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn. However, only one cat is granted this opportunity, decided by their leader Old Deuteronomy.

The production that will be streamed online is the 1999 production, featuring Elaine Paige as Grizabella and John Mills as Gus, as well as an eighty-piece orchestra. The musical features songs including "Memory", "The Rum Tum Tugger" and "Mungojerrie and Rumpelteaser".

Receiving its West End premiere at the New London Theatre (now Gillian Lynne Theatre) in 1981, the original London production won best new musical at the 1981 Olivier Awards and played a continuous run of over 8,000 performances in 21 years. It's since been revived at the London Palladium, starring Nicole Scherzinger as Grizabella.

Cats was recently adapted for the silver screen, directed by Tom Hooper and featuring a star-studded line-up including Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, James Corden and Taylor Swift.

This week's stream marks the latest musical as part of the online series, following previous musicals including By Jeeves, Love Never Dies, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, and a concert film of The Phantom of the Opera.

The stream will begin from 7pm on 15th May via the link below, and will be available for 24 hours in the United Kingdom, but 48 hours elsewhere.