Andrew Lloyd Webber’s acclaimed classic Cats has remained in the public eye since opening initially on the West End in 1981 and further flourishing into an 18-year Broadway run, countless touring productions, and most recently an all-star cinematic adaptation set to open in cinemas this December.

The unconventional musical is inspired by T. S. Elliot’s 1939 poetry collection Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats and follows a tribe of colourful characters on a journey of personal anecdotes, spiritual identity and ultimately rebirth. Cats is a sung-through show, forgoing conservative scenic structure and relying chiefly on choreography and orchestration to convey the emotional intensity of the story.

Due to its conceptual and eclectic style, Cats is a somewhat polarising piece of theatre, garnering a strong cult following yet often referenced in jest or parody form in pop culture. TV shows such as The Simpsons, Family Guy and Glee have all paid homage, among many others. Over its long lifespan on stages around the world, Cats has undergone a multitude of changes involving entire songs, characters and lyrics. A fluidity of composition allows Cats to be continually updated in accordance with an evolving societal audience, securing its legacy as a prevailing theatrical experience with the atmosphere grandeur of a classic.