Drew McOnie's Feral Cats: A New Vision

Drew McOnie's career took flight at 17 when he joined the international production of Cats, a formative experience he now revisits as director. His new interpretation aims to honor the iconic original choreography by Gillian Lynne while infusing it with contemporary movement styles. McOnie describes his version as more 'feral' than the original, moving away from house cats to express deeply human emotions through animal forms.

The production deliberately casts young dancers, seeking to unlock their potential and create a vibrant, energetic performance. McOnie acknowledges the inherent 'weirdness' of Cats, based on T.S. Eliot's poems, describing it as a blend of dance, music, and ritual. He emphasizes that the show's core themes remain wonder and joy, expressed through theatricality rather than literal animal portrayals.

McOnie praised Andrew Lloyd Webber's bold approach to musical composition, calling him a 'musical architect.' He also reflected on the maligned Cats film, deeming it fundamentally unsuited for the cinematic medium, as Cats thrives on live theatricality and audience imagination.