CATS – Het Meesterwerk

Het Meesterwerk

CATS – the musical

Musical · 29 cities · until 19 Jun 2027

Dates and tickets

219 dates · 29 cities

  1. Palace TheatreManchester

    £15

    Tickets (opens in a new window)

  2. Palace TheatreManchester

    £15

    Tickets (opens in a new window)

  3. 20:00

    MartiniplazaGroningen

    €61.20

    Tickets (opens in a new window)

  4. Palace TheatreManchester

    £15

    Tickets (opens in a new window)

  5. 20:00

    MartiniplazaGroningen

    €61.20

    Tickets (opens in a new window)

  6. Palace TheatreManchester

    £15

    Tickets (opens in a new window)

  7. 15:00

    MartiniplazaGroningen

    €61.20

    Tickets (opens in a new window)

  8. 20:00

    MartiniplazaGroningen

    €61.20

    Tickets (opens in a new window)

About

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats returns to Dutch theatres in a new staging: when the Rijksmuseum closes for the night, the cats gather among the paintings for the Jellicle Ball, where one of them is chosen to be reborn. The production opens at Carré and tours the country until June 2027.

The story of CATS

Once a year the Jellicle cats gather for the Jellicle Ball, and one by one they step forward: a railway cat, an ageing theatre cat, a well-fed cat about town, two mischievous burglars and a magician. Before the night ends, their old leader picks one of them to go up to the Heaviside Layer and begin again.

Through the playful portraits runs one sadder thread: a once-glamorous cat who left the tribe and is not welcome back.

This production moves the ball from a rubbish dump to the Rijksmuseum. After closing time the cats prowl the Gallery of Honour among the old masters, in costumes inspired by paintings.

Sources: musicalcats.nl, catsthemusical.com, musicaljournaal.nl, en.wikipedia.org

CATS trailer

CATS – Het meesterwerk: in theatres from autumn 2026

Plays from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode). · 16 Mar 2026

Songs in CATS

Sung in Dutch, in a new translation by Florus van Rooijen; the Dutch titles follow after the premiere.

Act one

  1. Overture
  2. Prologue: Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats
  3. The Naming of Cats
  4. The Invitation to the Jellicle Ball
  5. The Old Gumbie Cat
  6. ★ Ram Bam TijgerThe Rum Tum Tugger
  7. Grizabella, the Glamour Cat
  8. Bustopher Jones
  9. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer
  10. Old Deuteronomy
  11. The Jellicle Ball

Act two

  1. The Moments of Happiness
  2. Gus, the Theatre Cat
  3. Growltiger's Last Stand
  4. Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat
  5. Macavity: The Mystery Cat
  6. Mr. Mistoffelees
  7. ★ Memorysung by Grizabella
  8. The Journey to the Heaviside Layer
  9. The Ad-Dressing of Cats

Sources: musicalcats.nl, catsthemusical.com, nl.wikipedia.org

CATS cast and roles

The parts carry their new Dutch names; the original English name follows.

  • Nurlaila KarimGrizabella (De Glamourkat)
  • Richard SpijkersWijze MetusalemOld Deuteronomy in the original
  • Tessa SunnivaLappendekenJellylorum in the original; alternate Grizabella
  • Yoran de Bontde Ram Bam TijgerRum Tum Tugger in the original
  • Clara RibantVictoria
  • Rosanne RebergenBomballerinaBombalurina in the original
  • Martijn VogelBarend-Jan Bol / Coulissius BrederoBustopher Jones / Gus in the original
  • Nori de WinterDemetersecond understudy Grizabella
  • Aimée de PaterJulissaSillabub in the original
  • Melise de WinterVera Vlekkeloos (De Dameskat)Jennyanydots in the original
Show the whole cast (29)Show fewer
  • Pim VergeldtMcSluwerik / AdmetusMacavity in the original
  • Stijn HolewijnMagische Maestro Mysterio / KwakzalfMr. Mistoffelees in the original
  • Delano WillemsenAllegaartjeMungojerrie in the original
  • Eva NagelhoutMalle FietjeRumpleteazer in the original
  • Julius de VriendKletsmajoorMunkustrap in the original
  • Yannick PlugersTjoeke TjoekSkimbleshanks in the original
  • Martijn van VoskuijlenAlonzo
  • Bram LugtJense
  • Davy ReedijkStootkussentjePouncival in the original
  • Benthe BokelmanCassandra
  • Jur ArpWiedoetmewatCoricopat in the original
  • Esmee MardjanDuizendvoudTantomile in the original; alternate Lappendeken
  • Zoë van ZadelhoffElectra
  • Davina van EngelandEtceteraalso swing
  • Eelke DembinskiVictoralso swing
  • Jelle Wijgergangsswing and dance captain
  • Ian van Gellekomswing
  • Megan Tangkilissanswing and assistant dance captain
  • Luna Petersswing

Sources: musicalcats.nl, nl.wikipedia.org

CATS reviews

Each critic's verdict in one line of our own; the full review is on their site.

  • Musicalsites

    Finds the new staging fresh and visually rich, with a distinctly Amsterdam character under Paul van Ewijk's direction.

    20 Oct 2026

    Read the review

  • Musicalweb

    Praises the dance, the Rijksmuseum-inspired sets and costumes and Nurlaila Karim's Grizabella; the thin story is the one drawback.

    Britt Verschaeren · 22 Oct 2026

    Read the review

CATS tickets and discounts

Prices differ by theatre and seat. Book through the theatre or Eventim; at Carré only through the theatre.

Source: musicalcats.nl

  • VriendenLoterij VIP-KAART: 50% off, up to four tickets per card, at the theatres in the offer (not Carré, Martiniplaza, Chassé, Amare or Stadsschouwburg Utrecht). €2.25 order fee.

    vriendenloterij.nl

  • Parktheater Eindhoven: CJP members pay €2.50 less in every price band.

    parktheater.nl

  • Stadsschouwburg Utrecht: if you are 18 or under or have a CJP pass, you pay €25 in the second price band (at most 25 such tickets per performance). On Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 June every band is €10 cheaper.

    stadsschouwburg-utrecht.nl

  • Groups of more than ten: book group tickets or a package through the producer's form.

    musicalcats.nl

Latest news

  1. Musicalweb gives Cats four stars, praising the dance, the sets and costumes and Nurlaila Karim as Grizabella. musicalweb.nl

  2. The first reviews after the première are in: Musicalsites gives Cats 4.5 stars. musicalsites.nl

  3. De Graaf & Cornelissen announced the new production and its full cast, with Nurlaila Karim as Grizabella. musicaljournaal.nl

The history of CATS

From a book of cat poems to a new staging among the old masters.

  1. 1939T.S. Eliot publishes Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, the poems the songs are set to.
  2. 1981Premiere at the New London Theatre on 11 May; the show wins the Olivier for best new musical.
  3. 1982Cats opens on Broadway and plays there until 2000.
  4. 1987Dutch premiere at Carré on 18 July, in Gerrit Komrij's translation.
  5. 2006–2007A Dutch-language tour: more than 300 performances in 13 theatres.
  6. 2018–2019An English-language international tour visits Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Breda and Groningen.
  7. 2026De Graaf & Cornelissen bring a new Dutch production, set in the Rijksmuseum.

Sources: catsthemusical.com, npr.org, musicalweb.nl, dansmagazine.nl, musicaljournaal.nl, nl.wikipedia.org

About the show

Music
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Based on
T.S. Eliot, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
Translation
Florus van Rooijen
Direction
Paul van Ewijk
Choreography
Klevis Elmazaj

Updated 23 Oct 2026

Good to know

Running time
2 hours 30 minutesCATS lasts about 2 hours 30 minutes, including one interval.Source: musicalcats.nl (opens in a new window)
Minimum age
No age adviceStrobe lighting and loud sound effects.Source: musicalcats.nl (opens in a new window)
Language
DutchNew translation by Florus van Rooijen.Source: musicalcats.nl (opens in a new window)
Producer
De Graaf & Cornelissen
Premiere
19 Oct 2026
Last performance
6 Jun 2027

Questions

How long is CATS?

CATS lasts about 2 hours 30 minutes, including one interval.

What age is CATS suitable for?

Strobe lighting and loud sound effects.

What language is CATS performed in?

New translation by Florus van Rooijen.

Where can I see CATS?

CATS plays in Manchester, Groningen, Bristol, Heerlen, Brighton and Hove, Heanor, Zoetermeer, London, Breda, Nottingham, Rotterdam, Apeldoorn, Enschede, Belfast, Maastricht, Oxford, Leeuwarden, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Assen, Den Bosch, The Hague, Cardiff, Zwolle, Utrecht, Newcastle upon Tyne. All dates by city are listed above.

When is the last performance of CATS?

The last performance on Evenitto is on 19 Jun 2027 at Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne.

What do tickets for CATS cost?

Tickets start at £1.79. Prices differ by theatre and seat; pick a date for that theatre's prices.

Does CATS play in the Rijksmuseum?

No. The story is set in the Rijksmuseum's Gallery of Honour, but the show tours Dutch theatres. The museum worked with the producers on the staging.

Is there a film of CATS?

Yes, two: a filmed version of the stage show (1998) and a feature film (2019).

Can I take photos during CATS?

Only during the final applause. No photos, video or sound recordings during the show.

Is there audio description for blind and partially sighted visitors?

Yes, at five performances with live audio description by Komt het Zien!: Heerlen on 6 December, Breda on 28 December, Apeldoorn on 31 January, Leeuwarden on 27 March and Assen on 9 May.

Is there a performance with sign language interpreters?

Yes: the Saturday matinee of 31 October (14:30) at Parktheater Eindhoven is interpreted in Dutch Sign Language and has speech-to-text interpreters. Ask the box office for a seat from which you can see the interpreters well.

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