Get to know the purrfect cast of 'Cats' at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

The major new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical features performers such as Melanie La Barrie, Rachael Wooding, and Gary Wilmot.

Summary

• Cats is getting a major new production at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
• The iconic Andrew Lloyd Webber musical will be directed by Drew McOnie
• The cast includes Melanie La Barrie as Old Deuteronomy and Rachael Wooding as Grizabella
• Gary Wilmot plays theatre cat Gus

It’s the purrfect summer theatre outing. Another day is dawning as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical Cats gets a major new production at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, directed and choreographed by the venue’s artistic director, Drew McOnie.

Based on T.S. Eliot’s poetry, the legendary musical features indelible songs like “Macavity: The Mystery Cat”, “Old Deuteronomy”, “Magical Mr Mistoffelees”, “Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat”, and of course “Memory”. This must-see revival also boasts a talented company who are simply the cat’s whiskers.

Get to know some of the fabulous cast of Cats as you plan your trip this summer.

Book Cats tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Melanie La Barrie

La Barrie is playing Old Deuteronomy. The in-demand actress is currently starring as The Witch in Into the Woods at the Bridge Theatre, and her other numerous other shows include Hadestown, & Juliet, and Wicked in the West End, and Mary Page Marlowe and The Lorax at the Old Vic. She also originated the role of Mrs Phelps in Matilda The Musical.

Rachael Wooding

Wooding is playing Grizabella, who sings the almighty ballad “Memory”. Wooding was part of the extraordinary cast of the Olivier Award-winning musical Standing at the Sky’s Edge, and her other major West End shows include Pretty Woman: The Musical, We Will Rock You, Hairspray, Jersey Boys, and Saturday Night Fever. She also starred in the UK tour of Evita.

Gary Wilmot

Wilmot is playing Gus. The beloved veteran actor hosted TV series Showstoppers and appeared in dramas like Death in Paradise. On stage, his credits include Wicked, Anything Goes, The Prince of Egypt, Flowers for Mrs Harris, The Wind in the Willows, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and Oklahoma!. He is also a stalwart of the annual Palladium pantomimes.

Jaydon Vijn

Vijn is playing the Rum Tum Tugger. This rising star was most recently seen as Hydra in the London revival of Starlight Express. He made his West End debut, aged eight, in Oliver!, and his other shows include Matilda The Musical and Wicked in the West End, The Sound of Music at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, and the Mamma Mia! UK and international tour.

Hannah Joseph

Joseph is playing Victoria. An extremely talented dancer and performer, she was in last year’s Dream Ballets: A Triple Bill at Regent’s Park, and she has worked with leading choreographers including Wayne McGregor, Botis Seva, Russell Maliphant, and Matthew Bourne. Her other shows include Romeo + Juliet at Sadler’s Wells, and she was a finalist in the BBC Young Dancer 2022.

Danny Nattrass

Nattrass is playing Mungojerrie. He made his West End debut in Mamma Mia!, and since then has appeared in shows such as We Will Rock You, The Osmonds: A New Musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the European tour of Grease, Close Up – The Twiggy Musical at the Menier Chocolate Factory, and Brigadoon at Regents Park Open Air Theatre.

Briana Craig

Craig is playing Rumpleteazer. Her past work in musicals and dance productions includes the Japanese tour of A Chorus Line, The Artist and Snow White at Theatre Royal Plymouth, the national tour and Sadler’s Wells runs of 42nd Street and Singin’ in the Rain, Dick Whittington at New Wimbledon Theatre, and Jack and the Beanstalk at the London Palladium.

Jack Wilcox

Wilcox is playing Munkustrap. His numerous shows include Crazy for You, An American in Paris, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Wicked, and Kiss Me, Kate in the West End, Anything Goes at the Barbican, Singin’ in the Rain at Chichester Festival Theatre, 42nd Street at Leicester Curve, and the UK tours of Saturday Night Fever and Anything Goes.

Matthew Caputo

Caputo is playing Skimbleshanks. He previously performed at Regent’s Park in the musical On the Town, and his other credits include The Artist at Theatre Royal Plymouth, The Book Thief at Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, and Leicester Curve, the UK tours of Matilda, Top Hat and Mary Poppins, and Hamilton, City of Angels, and White Christmas in the West End.

Charlotte Riby

Riby is playing Jennyanydots (Gumbie Cat). She is also returning to Regent’s Park, having previously appeared in two shows: Jesus Christ Superstar and Carousel. Her other work includes Midnight at Sadler’s Wells East, the UK tour of Me & My Girl, and, in the West End, Hairspray, Billy Elliot, Waitress, and Annie Get Your Gun, plus the movies Wonka and Snow White.

Millie O’Connell

O’Connell is playing Demeter. The Olivier-nominated actress is best known for originating the role of Anne Boleyn in the hit musical SIX, and she is part of pop group SVN. Her other work includes Cake at The Other Palace, the UK tours of The Cher Show and Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Be More Chill and 42nd Street in the West End, plus screen roles in Wonka and Doctor Who.

Lucie-Mae Sumner

Sumner is playing Jellylorum (Griddlebone). Her past work includes Singin’ in the Rain at Kilworth House, the UK tours of Titanic, Sister Act, and I Should Be So Lucky, Chicago at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Barnum at the Menier Chocolate Factory, A Damsel in Distress at Chichester Festival Theatre, and Guys and Dolls, Mary Poppins and Avenue Q in the West End.

Elliot Broadfoot

Broadfoot is playing Bustopher Jones. He was part of the acclaimed cast of West End musical Kathy & Stella Solve a Murder!, and his other shows include Romeo & Juliet at the Liverpool Everyman, Of Mice and Men at Leeds Playhouse, the UK tour of I Should Be So Lucky, and the West End concerts of Once on This Island and Acorn Antiques: The Musical!.

Katie Dunsden

Dunsden is playing Bombalurina. Her work includes the West End productions of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, On Your Feet!, Peter Pan, and Grease, the UK and international tour of Mamma Mia!, and dance shows Anton Du Beke & Giovanni Pernice’s Him & Me, Let Me Entertain You, and Tango Passions. Her TV appearances include Britain’s Got Talent and The Royal Variety Show.

Main photo credit: The cast of Cats (Photo by Mark Senior). Inset: Photos courtesy of the production