Producer John Frost and Crossroads Live have confirmed that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats will play Brisbane’s Lyric Theatre, QPAC, from February 2026 as part of its 40th-anniversary Australian tour. This news comes as the tour opens this week at its original Australian home, Theatre Royal Sydney, and is due to visit Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide (September 2025), Crown Theatre, Perth (November 2025) and Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne (December 2025) before the Brisbane engagement.
Gabriyel Thomas leads the company as Grizabella, joined by Todd McKenney (Bustopher Jones/Asparagus) and classical vocalist Mark Vincent (Old Deuteronomy). Lucy Maunder portrays Jellylorum, while Des Flanagan steps into the role of Rum Tum Tugger. Jarrod Draper appears as Munkustrap and Leigh Archer returns to the musical as Jennyanydots.
The wider ensemble features Axel Alvarez, Sarah Bourke, Olivia Carniato, Mia Dabkowski-Chandler, Tom Davis, Ella Fitzpatrick, Charlie Follows, Joshua Gordon, Chaska Halliday, Dominique Hamilton, Claudia Hastings, Aimee Jones, Savannah Lind, Joe Miller, Jake O’Brien, Xavier Pellin, Guy Pik, Rania Potaka-Osborne, Edward Smith, Thalia Smith and Tod Strike.
Reflecting on the production’s enduring appeal, producer John Frost shared:
CATS is a legendary show that I’ve admired for over 40 years. A sparkling fusion of music, dance and verse, it was revolutionary when it first opened and enticed new audiences into the world of musical theatre. I’m thrilled to bring the original production of CATS back to Australia to celebrate its 40th anniversary, and I know Brisbane audiences will love to revisit one of their favourite shows. Australia has an enduring love for CATS and it’s time to let the memory live again.
The Brisbane season of CATS will follow the summer school holiday production of Annie the Musical in the Lyric Theatre, also produced by Crossroads Live. Those interested in nabbing early tickets to see CATS should add their names to the waitlist, currently available on the musical’s official website.
