The Lowestoft Players will be presenting the Musical ‘Cats’ later this year: The show will run for 10 performances from 20th to 28th September, at our Theatre, Players Theatre, in the centre of the town.
The search is on for cast members who have strong singing skills, acting soloists and singers with movement or strong dance ability.
The Lowestoft Players’ artwork for Cats. Image: Stephen Wilson
The popular sung-through musical, with music composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Trevor Nunn, will be a new and exciting reimagined production.
We asked Stephen Wilson, who will be directing the show, what he means by ‘reimagined’?
“The obvious difference is that will be no costumes made of tight fitting lycra – I expect that might be a relief to many potential performers” he replied. “However there will be plenty of feline make-up!”
The musical will be set in the ruins of a Bombed Theatre during the Blitz of 1940s London and the Lowestoft Players’ Cats will be earing stylized costumes of the period.
Auditions and workshops for the production will be held in the coming weeks.
Pre-Audition Workshops providing the chance to learn vocal, movement and dance material for the final auditions:
Part 1 - Monday 29th April 2024 at 7.15pm
Part 2 – Friday 10th May 2024 at 7.15pm
These will be followed by Auditions:
Named Character Soloist Roles – Saturday 11th May 2024 (by appointment)
Main Audition Workshop for All – Sunday 12th May 2024 from 9.00am to 1.00pm
Rehearsals will begin on Wednesday 19th June 2024.
Performers should register their interest/request an audition pack by visiting
Cats the Musical is based on the Old Possum’s Book Of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot. The Jellicle Cats come out on one special night of the year - the night of the Jellicle Ball. One by one they tell their stories to Old Deuteronomy, their wise and benevolent leader, who must choose one of the Cats to ascend to The Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life.
Possibly the most well-known number from the musical is “Memory”, originally sung by Elaine Paige in 1981 when Cats was first taken to the stage. The song was also covered by Barbra Streisand, also in 1981. The song is performed in the musical by Grizebella as a melancholic remembrance of her glamorous past and a plea for acceptance.
For those wishing to watch Cats rather than perform, tickets for what promises to be a fantastic show, are available from www.playerstheatre.info or by calling the Box Office on 01502 770020. The Box Office should be contacted for wheelchair and companion seats and also for group bookings.