Drew McOnie’s revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is praised for its visually striking setting, polished dance and acrobatics, but criticised for further weakening an already loose narrative. The review suggests the production successfully distances the musical from the poorly received film adaptation, yet its emphasis on movement makes the show feel more like a stylish dance spectacle than a coherent story.

The plot follows Jellicle cats gathering for an annual ball at which one is chosen for rebirth, with songs introducing individual characters drawn from TS Eliot’s poetry. Jaydon Vijn’s swaggering Rum Tum Tugger is singled out as the standout performance, while Taziva-Faye Katsande, stepping in as Grizabella, delivers a powerful “Memory” despite less developed characterisation; other roles and comic potential are judged unevenly used.