Creatives reunite for upcoming production of CATS musical opening at Artscape
CATS the Musical team who were part of the first production in 2001 as well. From left are resident director and choreographer, Duane Alexander; company manager, Juanita van Wyk; co-presenter Gareth Hewitt-Williams; producer Ande Gibson and wig mistress Madelein Krugell.
Image: supplied
The 2025 CATS the Musical will open at Artscape on Wednesday, December 10.
Based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the show tells the story of the Jellicle cats who gather once a year for the Jellicle Ball. Their leader, Old Deuteronomy, must choose which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a new life.
CATS features Andrew Lloyd Webber’s celebrated score, including the unforgettable ballad Memory, along with choreography, costumes, and an oversized junkyard set.
The South African season features a local cast and promises a spellbinding theatrical experience for the whole family, with rehearsals well underway for the opening.
Part of the team is a group of five that was also involved in the very first South African production in 2001, presented by Pieter Toerien and the Really Useful Group - now known as LW Entertainment.
Back then, Duane Alexander served as swing and dance captain, but now returns as resident director and choreographer. Juanita van Wyk, formerly stage manager, is now company manager, while Gareth Hewitt-Williams, who played Mungojerrie in 2001, is now co-presenting CATS alongside Pieter Toerien and LW Entertainment.
Ande Gibson, previously company manager, is a producer with Pieter Toerien Productions, while Madelein Krugell, who managed wigs in the original production, continues in that same capacity.
CATS the Musical will run at Artscape until Sunday, January 11, 2026.
Tickets are available at Webtickets or at Artscape Dial-a-Seat at 021 421 76 95. For more information, visit pietertoerien.co.za