My Dream Cast

Admetus/Macavity → Callum Nicol (Cats 25th Anniversary UK & Portugal Tour Cast 2006-2007.)

Callum ‘Fangs’ Nicol made a shy-but-sweet Admetus and a downright fierce Macavity - he was simply stunning in both roles. Such an amazing dancer and he had the perfect kittenish mannerisms. I also once saw him and the tour’s Munkustrap perform a step-perfect rendition of Bombalurina and Demeter’s Macavity dance steps whilst waiting in the wings!

Alonzo → Adam Lake (European Tent Tour 2012-2013, UK & Europe Tour Cast 2014 & West End Revival Cast 2014-2015.)

Ok, so...we need to talk about Adam Lake. How is he even real?! This man is a joy to watch as Alonzo!! I've always had such a soft spot for my Alonzos, but when Adam plays him, he's in danger of becoming my favourite character! Everything about Adam Lake is beautiful, graceful and captivating and I would be happy to watch him put on a one-man show of 'Alonzo Spends A Day Alone In The Junkyard' because he is utterly spellbinding! His dancing, his acting, his facial expressions...magical! And his leaps! Urgh. I'm about 90% sure he isn't actually real. He's got to be one of the best Alonzos I've ever seen - there are so many amazing Alonzos in this dream cast as well! But Adam Lake is probably the best at capturing that show-off, slightly cocky spirit of Lonzo's and he really rocks the humour of Alonzo too. He's sort of a cross between Jason Gardiner's suave, sassy Lonzo of the DVD production and Peter Tyler's slightly crazy, absurd Lonzo of the 25th Anniversary Tour. He's allllways up to something in the background - flirting with the girls and the boys, doing the odd acrobatics trick for no apparent reason, even during Gus the Theatre Cat! And when he plays Rumpus Cat he goes all-out in Alonzo's attempts to make the part bigger than it is and show off, annoying Munkustrap to no end! This guy is a seriously funny and seriously cool Alonzo! He jumps and leaps around the stage and springs off things and his Alonzo also has the sassiest shoulder shimmies ever! And also, I'm not sure anyone has actually ever explained the concept of gravity to him because he basically just spends two acts defying it! He's tall and impossibly elegant and every time he goes in for a backflip it's like watching it in slow-motion! It shouldn't work but it sooo does! And on the days when Bill Bailey can't, he's chief back-flipper in the finale! I love watching him in Tugger's song, thinking 'I'm just as good as him!' and then in Mistoffelees when he's dancing along like 'Yeeeeah, I'm clearly amaaaaazing!' and then Mistoffelees sets off an explosion behind him and he jumps and runs away, completely freaked out and pulling a face -it's so funny! Another highlight has to be his antics as Pirate Alonzo in Growltiger!

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Bill Bailey → Aaron Hunt (UK & Europe Tour Cast 2016-2017.)

Oh I love Aaron's Bill Bailey SO MUCH, YOU HAVE NO IDEA! Him and Alex Durrant of the 2006 tour there is almost NOTHING BETWEEN THEM and this decision was kind of agony to me. But Aaron just edged it because I think he is probably one of the best kittens I have ever seen in Cats in all my life! THE HUMOUR!!! THE DANCING!!! THE PLAYFULNESS AND RELATIONSHIP WITH CARBUCKETTY!!!! I could go on about this boy for days. He brought so much life and sweetness to a character who - in the wrong hands - can blend in too much with the other kittens and you just can't help but watch what mischief he gets up to. He is also one of the only people I have ever seen dancing alongside Joel Morris and have me actually want to be watching him as well as Joel, and believe me that is a huge compliment!! Honestly one of the most talented, sweet, energetic, brilliant, funny, entertaining Bill Baileys ever and just such a talent, I cannot say enough good words about this boy's portrayal of my other favourite Jellicle kitten!!!! Also? HE GAVE FAAAACE: if you need proof then look at this picture, you will not regret it!

Bombalurina → Lorraine Chappell (Cats 25th Anniversary UK, Portugal & Italy Tour Cast 2006-2008.)

Special mentions to Rosemarie Ford of the Ultimate Edition Cast and Melissa James of the 2013 UK Tour for their gorgeous portrayals of Bombalurina, but Lorraine Chappell was just the perfect combination of sultry but sweet and could high-kick and cartwheel like nobody’s business. When she belted out Macavity it would bounce off the theatre walls! It was a tough call between her and Rosemarie Ford, as they both brought different elements to the character, but Lorraine's delivery of 'I know he cheats at cards' in Macavity (and Zoë Smith's reaction to it) just edged it in her favour!

Bustopher Jones/Asparagus/Growltiger → Christopher Howell (Cats 25th Anniversary UK & Portugal Tour Cast 2006-2007.)

Chris made the ideal balance of comedy and heartbreak. His turn as Growltiger was hilarious - especially when he’d fall over the back of Growltiger's sofa and then pop back up with a very proud ‘Ta-dah!’. He once accidentally sang ‘Billy, she was a girl’ instead of ‘Lilly’ and nearly descended into giggles, but he always pulled it out the bag, finding new ways to make the same lines funny every night. But above all, Chris was responsible for some of the most haunting and beautiful renditions of Gus the Theatre Cat I’ve ever heard - tears every damn time. Chris' performances would always make you laugh out loud and then promptly break your heart afterwards. His Bustopher and his Growltiger were outrageous and so funny to watch, but his Gus the Theatre Cat...that moment when Gus realises his glory days are actually over? Chris played that so so so so well and his voice would always be so beautifully haunting in the theatre. Tears every time. Beautiful.

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Carbucketty → Joel Morris (South Africa, UK & Europe Tour Cast 2013-2014, West End Revival Cast 2014-2015 & European Tour Temporary Stand-In 2017.)

JOEL! Freaking Joel Morris! This little devil...I just...I think everyone else should just go home already, because Joel has won. If you want to see for yourself, then please do go and watch this video of him in action. I mean...first things first, let me tell you, I have seen some phenomenal people play Carbucketty. Karl Morgan's portrayal (under the guise of 'Pouncival) in the DVD production made me love CB as one of my favourite Jellicles with his cuteness and acrobatics, Kevin McGuire of the 25th Anniversary Tour made CB become my ultimate favourite Jellicle above all others with his adorable antics, his beautifully acident-prone, mischievous portrayal and some utterly incredible dancing ability. And Dane Quixal and Ryan Gover - swings who shared the role for a while in 2014 - both brought out such playful silliness and some incredible dancing to make the part utterly fantastic. But Joel is just...sublime and I don't think anyone can match him in my heart of hearts. He is so far beyond any other Carbucketty I've ever seen...and I don't mean that disrespectfully to any of the others I've seen. It's just that Joel stole my heart pretty much the second he stepped out onstage in Jellicle Songs. I can't, in good conscience, have a dream cast where he isn't listed as Carbucketty. Joel is a little dancing dynamo and he's precious and sweet and adorable and everything Carbucketty should be. He is never switched off when he's onstage, he just gives EVERYTHING and his CB is always up to fun and games and sweetness, and often silliness. I cannot say enough good things about his character-work. But then there's something else important about Joel's CB.......HIS DANCING! Urgh. It's just gorgeous. Effortlessly precise, gorgeous, delicate, balletic, energetic, light as a feather and utterly amazing. Even when he's stood side-by-side with Quaxo, your eyes still are drawn to him despite Quaxo's striking costume. Every line is finished, every turn is controlled, every leap is strong, and even as he's disappearing into the wings you can still see him reaching for those extensions of his arms and legs to hold the shape. He's the most hugable Carbucketty I've ever seen and I could tell you a hundred different bits and pieces of his background work which I noticed but it's that dancing that just cements the whole thing for me. I've never seen Joel not give 100% and when he gets the chance to really go for it in the Jellicle Ball there is just nothing that compares - he's simply one of the best dancers I've ever seen in my life, in anything, ever, never mind just in Cats or just in the role of CB. I love him. So much. If you ever want to waste a few hours of your life, then ask me to go into full detail about Joel Morris as Carbucketty!! Because I swear I could talk about his precious take on CB and his dancing ability all day if you made the mistake of letting me!

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Cassandra → Cassie Clare (UK & Europe Tour Cast 2014 & West End Revival Cast 2014-2015.)

Oh I dare you to find a moment in the show where Cassie Clare is not KILLING IT as Cassandra! I swear she is 500 levels of amazing. Her facial expressions and reactions to everything are so completely in character and she just has this incredible spark to her performance and I just love her so much, she is dynamite. And when she kicks those long legs of hers in the air you just KNOW her Cassandra is a diva! The first time I ever saw Cassie onstage, she was actually the night's understudy Bombalurina (two nights actually) - and let me tell you she gave me chillssssss with how good she was! We're talking the DVD cast's Rosemarie Ford with an extra shot! Fierce, fiery, elegant, captivating. There are not enough superlatives for this girl. I'm not one for watching Bombalurina, but I couldn't take my eyes off her! I was there with a friend who'd never seen the show before and she kept asking me the next day after the first show "Who was the red one? She was amaaaaazing!" and she was just totally spellbound by Cassie, because really, that's the only natural reaction to Cassie Clare onstage! She's an amazing, amazing talent. Gorgeous. Some highlights of her as Cassandra have to be when she gets into a spat with Demeter in the stalls because Demeter appears from round the corner and makes her jump so she seriously hisses and strops at her! Her disapproval at Gus having his toothful of gin is hilarious too, and as for her death-stares at Grizabella! So funny and so perfect for the character! I also adore the way that despite her haughtiness, her Cassandra still is SO concerned with looking after Demeter and the kittens when Macavity attacks! Then there's her total disdain for being forced to join in Mistoffelees' magic tricks! And her Cassandra's crush on Alonzo is played to perfection too! Cassandra is just stunning though, and even people who don't know the show well enough to know Cassandra end up watching her - I've seen people literally getting totally sidetracked and not knowing where to look because she's been sitting their side of the stage and they feel they ought to watch the 'main action' instead but Cassie is just impossible for them to ignore!

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Coricopat → Benjamin Mundy (UK & Europe Tour Cast 2014 & West End Revival Cast 2014-2015.)

Bennnnnnnnn. So first things first, he's a sweetheart, so when he smiles you have to smile and frankly the more people like that in a cast the better as far as I'm concerned! I've seen Ben as Coricopat and he is so gorgeous to watch in the part! He's such an amazing Coricopat - more fun and playful than a lot of people are with the part but I think that's so fascinating to watch because it gives him a different dynamic with the other toms which I love. I always enjoy him telling off Carbucketty for being a nuisance during Bustopher Jones and I have to say I cannot help but grin when he slides back in (after playing Ghengis) with the music during Skimbleshanks, this massive happy smile on his face! There's just so much to say about Ben's performance - his facial expressions in Moments Of Happiness and Old Deuteronomy are to die for, but his movements and his voice and his sync with his twinnie are stunning too! He's got secret pawshakes with Mungojerrie and Alonzo and his interactions with Cassandra and Jemima are endlessly fascinating too. He just brings so much to the part that I've never seen before and I love that about him. His performances were all utterly enchanting and magical.

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Demeter → Zoë Smith (West End and UK Tours, including the Cats 25th Anniversary UK & Portugal Tour Cast 2006-2008.)

Zoë made a truly stunning Demeter; so beautiful and delicate and just gorgeous all round. Such an incredible voice, haunting and soft one minute and spine-tinglingly powerful the next. Zoë’s Demeter also had a playful streak which was fun to watch; once during Pekes and the Pollicles she was trying to persuade Munkustrap to let her and her fellow Pekes go on early and decided to grope him - Munkustrap was extremely surprised and practically jumped a mile high - he tried to tell her off but she was undeterred, and trust me, by the time it got to the end of the fight with Macavity, there was no holding her back! As a side note? I also once saw this lovely lady play Grizabella - seriously....her voice...gorgeous.

Electra → Dawn Williams (UK & Europe Tour Cast 2013-2014 & West End Revival Cast 2014-2015.)

I went back and forth over this decision SOOOO many times! This is kind of a cheat, because I have never seen Dawn play Electra given that UK Tours don’t generally have the character, but I have seen Dawn play Jemima and Rumpleteazer, though, incredibly beautifully might I add, and even though I didn’t pick her for either part, I couldn’t not have her in my dream cast! The thing is, I wanted to pick her for BOTH parts! That was the problem! I wanted desperately to put her as my dream Jemima because she just IS Jemima. She is the cutest, most adorable thing I have ever seen and she never ever stops smiling. I mean really, 99% of the show she’s got this big, bright, kittenish smile on her face and she is just generally absolutely precious! On the Olivier Awards performance she was probably my favourite to watch - that smile just draws my eye every time! One of my favourite small moments of Dawn’s Jemima was in the Finale when she jumps up onto Bill Bailey’s back and had him spin her round, beaming the whole time. She also did the cutest little dances with Carbucketty (as Rumpleteazer too) and pulled the most precious faces in reaction to every moment of every song. I was lucky enough to have a smile-off with her one time in the Ad-Dressing of Cats and my cheeks ached from the levels of adorable she pushed it to! She’s just so much fun in general though, always up to something in the background of scenes - a valuable addition to any production’s kitten contingent! She's amazing as Jemima and as Rumpeteazer and I would have her playing both pretty often as first understudy for both, don't you worry! But it's my wanting to have her as a kitten which held me back from actually giving her Rumpleteazer. And, of the two Jemimas I was torn between, I felt Dawn was the only one of the two who could really do an equal amount of justice to Electra as to Jemima, because I honestly think she could play any of the kittens and be amazing and I'd probably like to send her on as Etcetera as well as couple of times too because really...can you imagine the cuteness she would come up with as Cettie?!!!

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Etcetera → Jo Bingham (West End & Cats Ultimate Edition Cast.)

Jo Bingham is the one who made me fall in love with Etcetera and I just think her performance in the filmed version of the show is fantastic. She’s probably one of the cutest kittens ever and her reactions - especially to Tugger - are priceless, with every glance and smile so in character it’s frightening! I never actually had an opinion either way on Etcetera until I saw Jo Bingham and suddenly she was my favourite cat for a long time. A really easy decision to put her in my dream cast - she’s pretty much unbeatable to me.

Grizabella → Sophia Ragavelas (UK & Europe Tour Cast 2013-2014 & West End Revival Cast 2014-2015.)

Sophia Ragavelas joined the 2013 UK Tour Cast several months into the tour as Grizabella, but boy did she make an impression on me! Her voice is stunninggggg and she really plays on the idea of Grizabella having been part of the tribe once, even joining in a little during the Jellicle Ball when the other cats try to scare her away. Stunning, beautiful, fantastic. Alongside Elaine Page I think her version of Memory is possibly my favourite, and in terms of seeing the show live she just has no competition. I cannot stress this enough: she's the only person I've ever known completely stop a theatre in its tracks with her rendition of Memory - I mean, honestly, when I saw the show in Canterbury...I think the whole time she was singing, everyone held their breath! I've never known NO sound in an auditorium other than the singing, there's always at least one person coughing or fidgeting or whispering, you know? I remember there was even a beat of silence after the final note, because everyone was so spellbound they forgot to clap for a split second, it was incredible. People are never so lost in a performance they don't even move, but when Sophia sings somerthing in the air just changes. She just has this amazing ability to hold the audience and it's so powerful and really properly sends chills down your spine in a way that Memory deserves. Gorgeous.

Jellylorum → Zoë Curlett (Cats 25th Anniversary UK & Portugal Tour Cast 2006-2008.)

Zoë has to have been one of the sweetest Jellylorums to ever grace a stage - her rendition of Gus The Theatre Cat was always beautiful and adorable in equal measure. As for her turn as Griddlebone, it would always get laughs! She just generally had a great sense of humour and would play off of Growltiger and his crew extremely well, always finding different moments and nuances to keep things entertaining for all eight shows in the week. Her Jellylorum was perhaps a bit more playful than most, but I thought that that fun-loving streak was great to watch when she was playing around with the other queens. My favourite thing about Zoë’s performance as Jellylorum, though, was that she would always sing ‘Gus is my cat’ - rather than ‘the cat’ - and she’d give Gus’ shoulders the softest of squeezes as she said the ‘my’. I always just thought that, although it was only a small detail, it made for a very sweet, precious moment which she had fashioned for those two characters and it never failed to make me smile.

Jemima → Veerle Castelyn (Belgium, Netherlands, West End & Cats Ultimate Edition Cast.)

Dawn Williams came so so close to being my Jemima, but I couldn't bear the thought of a dream cast without the gorgeous open face and perfect mix of sweetness and mystery of Veerle Casteleyn. Her gorgeous little Jemima face and all of her mannerisms are so perfect and she could go from kittenish to contemplative in the blink of an eye. Although the video dubbed her, I saw her perform as Jemima in the West End and she was every bit as stunning with her own voice as with someone else's. She was the first Jemima I ever saw and I know Jemima was one of the characters I most remembered, so I think her interpretation just really made an impression which stuck with me as the defining Jemima. She was truly such a stunning, stunning Jemima who is just ever-so-slightly less kittenish than Dawn in her interpretation, making it more difficult for me to choose because both interpretations are so loveable.

Jennyanydots → Lorraine Graham (Cats 25th Anniversary UK & Portugal Tour Cast 2006-2007.)

Probably the funniest, most borderline-insane Jennyanydots to ever cross a stage! Lorraine made such a precious Jenny and she really played up the comedy of the beetles’ tap routine, bossing everyone around and telling off the kittens for their misbehaviour. Lorraine also made sure to portray a fabulous and funny relationship with Skimbleshanks! John McManus was her Skimble and between the two of them they made such a silly, eccentric pair, always sticking up for each other and each being very proud of the other during their songs. One of Lorraine’s funniest moments in the show was always during Mistoffelees, when she and Skimbleshanks would go all-out trying to get Jenny chosen for the magic trick, with Skimble showing her off and Lorraine’s Jenny posing before trying to console Skimble when he pouted at her not being picked. The two of them were always together in the backgrounds of songs portraying similar silliness (batting at lights which were flashing, pulling faces at each other as the younger cats squealed over Tugger) and the reward for all their silliness finally came in the cast’s final matinee together in Nottingham in February 2006; as it was the final matinee, the cast had the all-clear to play around a little during the show, and, of all their little tweaks to the performance, the best had to be Lorraine Graham’s Jennyanydots FINALLY being picked instead of Cassandra for Mistoffelees’ magic trick! Skimble was so proud he could’ve burst, and Lorraine played Jenny’s excitement so well, striking poses and being as sassy as possible for her star turn! It was all the cast could do to keep from laughing! Lorraine was always effervescent and memorable and you just couldn’t avoid falling in love with her Jenny’s eccentric streak. So. Much. Fun.

Mungojerrie → Zak Nemorin (Cats 25th Anniversary UK, Portugal & Italy Tour Cast 2006-2008.)

There are no words for Zak Nemorin as Mungojerrie...except possibly 'bouncy' and 'adorable'. Zak was more or less Mungojerrie in human form!! He was just so funny and adorable and perfect for his role. He once dragged Alex Durrant's Bill Bailey out of the old pipe by his tail to set up residence in there himself for The Moments of Happiness. From the way he used to sing random words and parts of words loudly in Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer to the way he'd always bang the stage with his foot and bow eccentrically at the end of the song to demand more applause...and I can't forget that amazing cartwheel which he always helped his Rumpleteazers pull off without a hitch every time. Zak was just a bundle of energy...and even when he switched to playing Skimbleshanks, I always thought of him as my perfect mischief-making Mungo.

Munkustrap → Dean Maynard (Cats 25th Anniversary UK, Portugal & Italy Tour Cast 2006-2008.)

Dean. What can I even tell you about Dean? Dean Maynard is a man who just was and is Munkustrap. He is a human Munkustrap and his performance in Cats will never be beaten for me because honestly, he made one of the funniest, sweetest, most beautiful, charming and strong Munkustraps ever. His version of Pekes and Pollicles was always funny because he just played the combination of frustration, stress and then finally giving up so well. He also worked the audience so well; he sat down next to one woman when she wasn't looking before leaning over and asking her for a sweet, making her jump, whilst another time he pointed himself out in the programme as someone flicked through it at the end of the interval. But Dean's acting and Dean's humour and Dean's characterization and Dean's audience work...it's all amazing, but it's nothing compared to the feeling in a theatre when he opens his mouth and starts to sing. That voice! Oh, that voice. His opening line 'Are you blind when you're born?' took my breath away the first time I heard it, because of the impact of hearing such an incredibly strong yet soft voice for the first time. All the softness and power of some sort of woodwind instrument....a flute maybe? Does that make sense? His voice just hangs in the air and reverberates around a theatre and it makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. No competition for me here. Dean Maynard is it.
Best. Munkustrap. Ever.

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Old Deuteronomy → Ken Page (Original Broadway & Cats Ultimate Edition Cast.)

This one was another tough call here; Nick Pound (of many different West End and UK Tour casts) and Ken Page both bring different things to the role. Both men have incredible voices and their different takes on songs are equally wonderful to listen to. But in the end Ken Page's smilier Old Deuteronomy won out for me, just. I'd probably have Nick Pound perform just as regularly as Ken Page in the end, but Ken Page's smiley face and the way he is with the other cats (especially Mistoffelees at the end of his song) is just so precious. His Ad-Dressing Of Cats always gives me chills as well, something about the way he sings it just makes me smile so widely and yet want to cry at the same time because it's over! He really gives that 'last night of the Proms' feel that Andrew Lloyd Webber describes for that final song and it's amazing.

Quaxo/Mistoffelees → Jacob Brent (Broadway, West End, US Tours & Cats Ultimate Edition Cast.)

Well, there are so many amazing dancers that I could mention who I have seen play this role and who I would love to see play Quaxo/Mistoffelees again. Kevin McGuire, Trevor Schoonraad, and although I haven't seen Joel Morris dance in the role I would certainly love to. BUT! Jacob Brent...gosh, I think he just is amazing as both kitten and magician! I know that it probably comes down to how you prefer your Quaxo/Misotffelees - I know some people prefer him to be portrayed a more mature cat, and certainly I loved watching Trevor Schoonraad portray him in that exact way. However, I just can't help but fall in love with the idea of Quaxo/Mistoffelees as this slightly younger, slightly more inexperienced cat who Tugger has taken under his wing and Jacob Brent just absolutely nailed that characterization for me. I was lucky enough to see him live in the West End once and honestly, that smile of his just shone. And his dancing! Also, he and John Partridge side by side....come on....that's just something I would love to see again!

Rum Tum Tugger → John Partridge (West End, Germany & Cats Ultimate Edition Cast.)

I ADORE John Partidge’s performance as Tugger in the DVD! I just find it so hard to picture other people in the part because of him! And it’s not for lack of seeing talented people in the part! In particular, the 2014 Tugger Filippo Strocchi is Actual Hilarity, and then of course I can’t not give a nod to Gary Watson of the 25th Anniversary Tour because his harmonies were just sent from heaven! But no matter how hard I try, when I think of Tugger, John Partidge’s Tugger is the first image that comes into my head because he just captured the spirit of him so well! He captured the wildness, the sexiness, the attitude, the playfulness, the hidden softness, the humour…everything. He’s just got something about his performance which you can’t place but that is perfect for the Tugger - because in my head, Tugger is a rock star and he’s got Star Quality by the bucketload, but like a lot of people who have had that star dust sprinkled on them, he’ s also got his troubles that make him crave that attention and he sometimes goes too far in his attempts to get it but his heart is nearly always in the right place. I was lucky enough to see John Partirdge play Tugger in the West End and in a theatre, that energy he gave Tugger was so intense you got a thrill every time he stepped onstage because he just commanded your attention - just like Tugger should! I actually got to see him alongside Jacob Brent that time too, and that just was electric! No two performers have made me as intrigued about the friendship and dynamic between Tugger and Mistoffelees as those two did! Because the way they played it - onstage just as much as in the Ultimate Edition - you just felt there was an almost brotherly connection there, that Tugger was so protective of him and that Mistoffelees loved winding Tugger up by not being remotely phased by his rock star antics. The chemistry I saw in the live show between those two was so good and I’ve always given John Partridge enormous credit for making Tugger just as complex and curious and amazing as he deserves to be. Although I have to say, my overarching memory of John Partirdge’s Tugger was of him being so sassy and sharp and larger than life, the epitome of this being at the end of Mistoffelees when he went to introduce Mistofelees’ final splits-jump off the tyre by saying ‘Ladiiiiiiesssssssssssssssss *sighs, rolls eyes, checks his nails, pulls a face and then mumbles* andgentlemen’. Jacob Brent was left standing on the tyre having to wait for his big final leap whilst John Partridge basked in a huge laugh from the audience! Thunder effectively stolen, Jacob…sorry! Incredible Tugger, incredible voice, incredible performer.

Rumpleteazer → Jo Gibb (West End & Cats Ultimate Edition Cast.)

Such a difficult one to pick: Dawn Williams was such an amazing Teazer from 2014-15 and not choosing her is more to do with her being overqualified, as I mentioned above. Sarah Meade (2006), Joanne McShane (2007) and Katie Warsop (2013) have all astounded me in the role and made me laugh and love Teazer all the more. And Carrie Sutton of the 25th Anniversary Tour was amazing when she understudied the role too. But Jo Gibb was just so sparky and sweet and funny and I love her bounciness in all the behind-the-scenes footage of the Ultimate Edition Cast. I think that Jo Gibb's Teazer is just the right amount of kittenish without being an actual kitten; she's adorable and cute but she's also sexy and sassy when she wants to be, and she has the most adorable pout. Everything about Jo Gibb's Teazer was bouncy and bounding and she had a lovely lightness to her dancing which I love to see.

Skimbleshanks → John McManus (Cats 25th Anniversary UK & Portugal Tour Cast 2006-2007.)

Woohoohoohoohahahahahaa! That was the sound you would hear when John McManus' Skimbleshanks was near! No contest for me - John's Skimble was sensational. Mad as a box of frogs, but still, something special to behold. The way John sung Skimble's song was perfect, he would emphasis the most unexpected parts of words and really turn up the camp to entertain the kittens. John had so many precious little traits which he brought to the role of Skimble; he would always put up the most absurd and hilarious fights with the Pekes in Pekes and Pollicles, picking them off with bow and arrows and machine guns and all sorts. He also would mime some hilarious disapproving things, especially when Munkustrap gave him a hard time! John was also the master of audience work - surprising people at every turn! He's mess up people's hair and nuzzle their shoulders when they weren't looking, he even made me jump a couple of times, and I was expexting him! The very first time I saw John perform, he actually sat on my lap and bounced up and down whilst signing his song in the Finale! I didn't even have to think before choosing John to be my dream Skimbleshanks - an easy decision, because no-one could possibly match him for eccentricity!

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Tantomile → Kathryn Barnes (UK & Europe Tour Cast 2014 & West End Revival Cast 2014-2015.)

Ahhhhh, Kathryn Barnes is amaaaazing. She and Ben Mundy make such a good pair as Tantomile and Coricopat in the 2014 tour and the two of them seriously make me watch the twins which is pretty impressive as I'm normally a kittens kinda girl! Kathryn's facial expressions are so spot on and I just love the way she plays the part - she's definitely a no-nonsense Tantomile and the way she and Ben Mundy play off each other and sync up with each other is fabulous and they spark off all these ideas in my head about how Tantomile is the older twin by about ten seconds or something and she never lets Coricopat forget it! So yes, I just love her in the part of Tantomile in pretty much every way possible, she's simply stunning. Voice, dancing, everything about her. Twin-sync is beautiful too and I just love her interactions with Cassandra and Jemima as well.

Victoria → Hannah Kenna Thomas (UK & Europe Tour Cast 2014, West End Revival Cast 2014-2015, Blackpool Winter Garden Cast 2015 & London Palladium Cast 2015-2016.)

This girl is a beautifulllllll dancer! Her lines when she dances are simply stunning and when she performs the Invitation To The Jellicle Ball she does it with such total grace and calmness that you just end up being spellbound. She's a truly beautiful Victoria but she's still got that slight kittenishness about her which I love to see, and she is definitely one of the best dancers I've ever seen in anything ever. She brings so many different aspects to Victoria and really shows such incredible range in how she portrays her but without ever losing that gace, comportment and air of mystery which is so essential to make the role captivating. Honestly, she was just born to play this role and she and although Rachel Ensor are ridiculously close in how good they are in the part, Hannah just has something about her which makes me feel she is THE ONE for that part, and I also get the impression she was Dame Gillian Lynne's idea of THE ONE for that part too, and I think her opinion speaks volumes. But Hannah is just a phenomenon, I've never seen anyone move the way she moves - she has a way of moving that it just like she's being poured into place and it's simply breath-taking to watch her take on those gorgeous, flowing Victoria moves.

Swing Section (from left to right) → Nick Pound, Aeva Mae, Gary Watson, Ryan Gover, Alex Durrant, Paul F. Monaghan, Peter Tyler, Elaine Paige, Karl Morgan, Callum Train, Ross Finnie, Phyllida Crowley Smith, Benjamin Yates, Trevor Schoonraad, Rosemarie Ford, Carrie Sutton, Jessica Buckby, James Darch, Filipo Strocchi, Barry Haywood, Rachel Ensor, Jason Gardiner, Will Lucas, Natasha Mould, Michael Gruber, Axel Alvarez, Ryan Dixon, Dane Quixall, Matthew Caputo, Philip Comely.

Swing → Nick Pound (West End & UK Tours including Cats 25th Anniversary UK & Portugal Tour Cast 2006-2007, Cats UK & Europe Tour Cast 2013-2014 & West End Revival Cast 2014-2015.)
Nick Pound has been impressing audiences as Old Deuteronomy for years now and there's a reason he's often a casting director's go-to when a new production is being put on in UK. He is a much more thoughtful, wistful Deuteronomy than Ken Page's and there's something to be said for both versions of the role. Nick's voice is something special though and it really works in a theatre, reverberating in the air - I love his version of The Moments of Happiness! But I also love the way he is with the kittens - he's so determined to keep everyone else in line but with the kittens he humours them and plays with them, especially during Gus' song, and it's just so cute! I especially loved one time when he entertained CB during Gus' song by flicking his tail and letting him play at trying to catch it!

Swing → Aeva Mae/Linda Mae Brewer (West End & Cats Ultimate Edition Cast.)
She made such a stunning and enchanting Demeter and she has a truly amazing voice. For such a long time I couldn't even imagine anyone else but her really playing Demeter; her poise and grace were just stunning and I think she's perhaps one of the best actresses to really show Demeter's fragility and give the best sense of Demeter's troubled past which makes for a really interesting dynamic in the recorded version. I couldn't have a dream cast without Aeva Mae being in it somewhere along the line basically.

Swing → Gary Watson (Cats 25th Anniversary UK & Portugal Tour Cast 2006-2007.)
Ohhhh, Gary's voice...Gary's dancing...Gary's....well, just everything! He was a perfect Tugger! One of the best I've seen since John Partridge that's for sure. And his harmonies on Mistoffelees were heavenly! I also loved the way he'd tease the kittens too; he used to drop Mistoffelees' jacket on Bill Bailey's head and that sort of thing. Plus, he and Dean made a great pair in portraying Tugger and Munkustrap as brothers who can't understand each other and drive each other crazy but reach an understanding. And in Old Deauteronomy, the blend of Gary's voice with Dean's was heavennn, and Gary's Tugger teasing Dean's Munkustrap in Pekes and Pollicles always got a laugh, especially when he'd knock over Munkustrap's cast as he played his bagpipes and did a spot-on impersonation behind Munkustrap at the top of the song!

Swing/Dance Captain → Ryan Gover (UK & Europe Tour Cast 2014 & West End Revival Cast 2014-2015.)
So Ryan Gover is a swing I've seen play Carbucketty - but I swear that's not the only reason he made it into the Dream Cast!!! Yes, I do play favourites with my Carbuckettys but this guy deserves soooo much praise! His dancing is just insanely good - I mean really and truly even just watching him warm up is a treat (they forgot to turn the auditorium cameras off in Llandudno before one of the performances I went to see where he was on as CB and I just sat and watched the TVs in the foyer as he and Joseph Poulton - 2014 Mistoffelees - warmed up together, and it was beautifulllll!) His CB is a real sweetie, a very young kittenish CB, and I love the way he'd play him sort of bashful and as quite easily led astray - he was less of a mischievous kitten and more of a misguided kitten in his portryal and that was so adorable to see! My favourite part of his performance was when he and Bill Bailey were watching Tugger and Munkustrap sing Old Deuteronomy together and the two of them do a little paw-touch and Bill Bailey and Ryan's CB copied them and Ryan had this cute little awed expression on his face like it blew his mind that they could do what the grown-up cats did! So precious. But yeah, I could watch him dance all day and he's adorable as Carbucketty so I put him in my dream cast and made him my dance captain!

Swing → Alex Durrant (UK Tours including the Cats 25th Anniversary UK, Portugal & Italy Tour Cast 2006-2008.)
Alex Durrant was born with a Bill Bailey face and an adorable onstage persona to match - he was always getting knocked over backwards by Mistoffelees’ fireworks and told off by Munkustrap for trying to swot at Bustopher’s white spats! One of the most amazing acrobats I’ve ever seen and a star on the trapeze, even if he did always seem to be getting ill and hurting himself throughout the tour!

Swing → Paul F. Monaghan (UK & Europe Tour Cast 2013-2014 & West End Revival Cast 2014-2015.)
One of the funniest Bustopher/Gus/Growltigers I've ever seen! He gets sooooo many laughs with his little ad-libs! His Growltiger is probably the funniest of all, borderline insane, quite rightly so, and so deliberately OTT. I love his fall off the back of the sofa, his attempts to upstage Griddlebone and his face when he realises it was Alonzo who was stroking his head and not Griddlebone! But I think my favourite moment is when his Bustopher Jones nearly falls backwards off his top hat chair and he just goes 'Oh dear' with perfect comic timing! I also loved it when the police sirens scared off his Bustopher and in one show, as Carbucketty ran past him down the steps into the auditorium, he just called out after him 'Wait for me, Kitty!' and made such a production of trying to catch up to him - SO funny!

Swing → Peter Tyler (Cats 25th Anniversary UK & Portugal Tour Cast 2006-2007.)
Hands down the funniest Alonzo ever - he pretended to drink out of a massive tea-cup, he fell over backwards during his bow, he danced like a loon in the Finale, he was insanely good at playing off Dean Maynard's Munkustrap, especially when he was dressed up as Rumpus Cat, and his dancing was superb. Every performance by Peter Tyler would have at least one memorable moment.

Swing → Callum Train (UK & Europe Tour Cast 2014 & West End Revival Cast 2014-2015.)
Callum Train is SUCH an interesting Munkustrap I just had to include him in my dream cast! He plays him a little more inexperienced and a little more 'new at the job' than I've seen before and I love it because it creates a different dynamic for him with the other Jellicles such as Alonzo, where they seem to still see him as their friend who'll let them mess around and will mess around back and be a little more laid back so they push it a little and are surprised when he's desperately trying to get them to fall back in line - like in Bustopher Jones, Alonzo is lolling around being daft and is completely alarmed when Munkustrap physically marches him back into line with the other toms to greet Bustopher properly! It's fascinating to watch, and it makes The Awful Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles very very funny! I adore his version and it never failed to make me laugh, especially the way he played off Jellicles like Skimbleshanks and Alonzo (as Rumpus Cat) who he's relying on to help him but then they end up being so much less up-tight and serious about the play than he is and just add to the madness, being just as hopeless as everyone else at playing their roles! Such a fun, interesting take on the character that I really love to watch play out.

Swing → Elaine Paige (Original West End & Cats Ultimate Edition Cast.)
I think that Elaine Paige comes as close as any performer can to being able to claim ownership of a role, so I am aware of the apparent absurdity (on so many levels) of me not making her my Dream Cast Grizabella. I think her performance as Grizabella is just so iconic, but as I have never seen her live and have had the experience of hearing Sophia Ragavelas leave an auditorium breathless...I made Elaine Paige a swing. Her performance of Memory so powerful though, and there is no recorded version of Memory which competes with her rendition in the Ultimate Edition Cast, truly. Elaine Paige just has something indefinable about her which makes her perfect in the role of the Glamour Cat, and every time I hear her rendition of Memory I get shivers down my spine.

Swing → Karl Morgan (West End & Cats Ultimate Edition Cast.)
Another kitten in my swing section! His performance as Pouncival in the Ultimate Edition Cast was just so adorable though and so cheeky! The CB make-up was just made for his face as well I think, he really looks the part! I think his leaps and his little twinkly mischievous eyes were what first made me love Carbucketty/Pouncival.

Swing → Ross Finnie (West End & UK & Europe Tour Cast 2013-2014.)
Ross Finnie makes such a brilliant, funny Skimbleshanks and I don't think there's a single performance I've seen of his where I haven't chuckled at something he's done! His facial expressions are so perfect and I adore the way he plays off the kittens, half-humouring, half-despariing! He doesn't give Munkustrap too easy of a time of it because he doesn't really fully discipline the kittens when they're being crazy, especially Billy Bailey and Carbucketty! His Skimbleshanks is a bit daft but also a massive softy which is kind of adorable really. But that doesn't stop him scaring the wits out of audience members by creeping up on them before the lights go down for Act Two - I love when he's doing that with Callum Train's desparing Munkustrap trailing behind apologizing on his behelf and shaking his head faintly!!

Swing → Phyllida Crowley Smith (West End & Cats Ultimate Edition Cast.)
Easily up there with the best ever Victorias You can't deny what an incredible and statuesque Victoria she made. I think it's probably fair to say that her Victoria is perhaps always going to stand as the iconic embodiment of that character, and certainly for that production with its full compliment of kittens this more Victoria than you usually see on UK Tours did not at all take away from the tribe and actually added a new dimension to it.

Swing → Benjamin Yates (UK & Europe Tour Cast 2014 & West End Revival Cast 2014-2015.)
This was such a tricky call, because actually in some ways Ben's Mungojerrie really reminded me of Zak Nemorin's so deciding between them for who would be my Dream Mungojerrie was incredibly difficult! Now Ben made an AMAZING Mungojerrie, and I loved the slightly sharper edge he brought out in the character - he was less soft/daft-mischievous and more loveable rogue-mischievous. He was cheeky and sassy and sarcastic and he really brought out a more mature edge to the character, almost teenagerish where he was able to be slick and sexy with the part one minute, dry and droll the next and downright impish and cheeky at the same time, it was magical.
With his Mungojerrie being much more concerned with being cool and slick it also added a really interesting dynamic with Rumpleteazer, he was always shushing her when she fawned over Tugger or rolling his eyes and pulling faces at her, but at the same time he was so clearly adoring her and clearly having a laugh and sharing secrets and in-jokes and knowing looks with her, but trying not to let on because he's wayyy too cool for that! Ben just owned it, I mean really, truly, owned it and his version of the character is so clear and bold and special in my head. A real highlight I always looked out for was Mistoffelees' dance solo, when he would sit at the back of the Junkyard doing his own little take on all the moves! Ben also has an amazing voice on him, so maybe having him as a swing could allow me to send him on as Tugger in my dream production - I would LOVE to see his take on that!!

Swing → Trevor Schoonraad (Cats 25th Anniversary UK, Portugal & Italy Tour Cast 2006-2008.)
Such a dancer! Trevor doing the Mistoffelees dance solo was always so much fun to watch and his spins and leaps and lines...really, that man is talented! Poor Trevor suffered a bit with injury and illness but he never let it show on the stage. And, although he wasn't as kittenish as I usually like my Mistoffeleeses, he was still adorable in his own unique way - I mean, he has dimples for goodness sake! - and I would love to see him perform that dance solo again because it's probably neck-and-neck between him and Jacob Brent for being the best at that solo...and actually, Trevor might even just edge it? Maybe?! He was just SO impossibly light on his feet and seemed to bounce and spring without even trying! I only ever saw him fall out of a turn sequence one time and he managed to land in a pose and rescue it so no-one would know really, his relfexes were just SO sharp.

Swing → Rosemarie Ford (West End, UK Tours & Cats Ultimate Edition Cast.)
Such a tough decision between Lorraine Chappell and Rosemarie Ford for Bombalurina, because I feel like the two of them have such different takes on the character. I think a lot of people would have Rosemarie Ford in their dream casts, she was stunning as Bombalurina and I've heard she made a great Grizabella too - no-one can deny that voice of hers and I don't think I've ever seen a more sultry, slinky, sexy Bombalurina than hers. She belongs in anyone's dream cast I think.

Swing → Carrie Sutton (Cats 25th Anniversary UK & Portugal Tour Cast 2006-2007.)
In the 25th Anniversary Tour, Carrie made a much softer, sweeter Tantomile than I'd ever seen before - she was much more playful and I loved the light-hearted way she would deal with the other queens. I liked the idea of a friendlier Tantomile who looked out for the kittens a bit more, especially in contrast with Philip Comely's very serious Coricopat; she would reprimand him a little for his seriousness and that was fun to watch. She and Phil were extremely in sync with one another and Carrie had so much grace about her too, so seeing the pair of them dance together was captivating.

Swing → Jessica Buckby (UK & Europe Tour Cast 2013-2014.)
If I wasn't going to give her Cassandra, I had to keep her around somehow because the way she dances is beautiful and she has a gorgeous smile! Cassandra isn't usually one of my favourite characters, but Jessica Buckby made me notice her and that alone should tell you how good she is! Her dancing and grace just made her so captivating in the part.

Swing → James Darch (UK & Europe Tour Cast 2013-2014.)
James Darch makes a fantastic Alonzo, I love the way he plays the role of being Munkustrap's go-to second-hand and he's definitely a funny Rumpus Cat. He's got that Alonzo attitude and swagger and I just...he really gets that aura you have to have about you as Alonzo. But he's not just an amazing Lonz, he's an amazing Munkustrap too! I saw him as Munkustrap one night in Manchester and he was BRILLIANT! It was the most I've laughed at Pekes and Pollicles since Dean left the show and his characterization was just the right balance of soft-hearted but strong for me. He was more of a 'learning-the-ropes-desperate-to-impress-his-dad' type Munkustrap than Dean was, but I definitely loved that take on the character and he deserves to be mentioned in my dream cast. Such a star.

Swing → Filippo Strocchi (UK & Europe Tour Cast 2014.)
This guy is one of the funniest Tuggers I've ever seen! He's got such a great delivery and he really brings out the comedy in the way he plays off of Munkustrap. I also think his relationship with Mistoffelees is fun - he really plays the cool, if a little annoying, big brother-like friend role and it's so funny in Misto's song when Mistoffelees tells him that he wants to do a special finale to the song - at first he goes 'What?!' then Misto elaborates and he reacts with this 'AHHHHHHHHH!' that's a mix of 'SO COOL, GOOD IDEA' and 'HELL YEAH LET'S DO THIS THING' - but when Macavity is around he also always goes to reassure him too so there's just great affection there as well as the teasing. I also love the way he plays Deuteronomy thinking Tugger's the one who brought him back before slowly pointing to Misto. He's just funny in everything though, such a laugh! And a fabulous voice. Incredible.

Swing → Barry Haywood (West End & countless UK Tours up to 2014 & West End Revival Cast 2014-2015.)
I'm not 100% sure it's even legal to have a production of Cats in the UK without Barry Haywood being involved somewhere along the line! He'll just be a swing in Cats until the end of time and deserves to be in my dream cast for that reason alone!! But also, having seen him play Gus and Old Deuteronomy, I know he's SO good. I especially love him as Deuteronomy, the man really has a gorgeous voice and I loved listening to him sing Moments of Happiness and The Ad-Dressing Of Cats.

Victoria → Rachel Ensor (Cats 25th Anniversary UK & Europe Tour Casts 2006-2009.)
Rachel...what can I say about Rachel Ensor as Victoria? Where do I even start? Probably with: beautiful. Sparky. Sassy. Sweet. Stunning (so stunning!) And absolutely precious. The very first time I saw Rachel play Victoria, I actually thought she was too kittenish for me, preferring Phyllida Crowley Smith’s more mature Victoria in the video production. But then the next few times I saw Rachel perform as Victoria, as I watched her more carefully, I was just utterly enchanted by her portrayal. This girl can dance! She is one of those people with a natural grace and charisma about her that makes you want to watch her – and her more playful, sassy take on the character was something I think is unique to her, because let me tell you, in person she is just as sparky and dazzling and she really carried that to the part well. Watching her boss the tom kittens around, particularly watching her play around with Bill Bailey, messing about and then sulking with him afterwards during Mistoffelees, always teasing him, was a lot of fun. But her dancing was definitely my real highlight – the top left picture (in pink) was her signature leap which she always did at curtain call, but that wasn’t the only beautiful shape she could pull out of thin air. Her solo and her pas de deux with Admetus in the Jellicle Ball were always stunning – the only time I ever saw her falter was one time when an understudy Admetus slipped slightly during the Jellicle Ball and she thought for a moment she was going down – the look she gave him made me think he was going to get teased mercilessly backstage in the interval the minute she got chance! So yes – an amazing Victoria who I cannot pay enough compliments to. Beautiful.

Swing → Jason Gardiner (West End & Cats Ultimate Edition Cast.)
Such a close run thing, because I love Jason Gardiner's Ultimate Edition Cast performance and until I saw Adam Lake he would've been my first pick. But edged out or not, I still adore his Alonzo! It was his portrayal of the character which first made him one of my favourite Jellicles, because I love how he's sassy and sharp but also caring and protective too. He plays Alonzo as this perfect balance of Tugger and Munkustrap which works really well, and the idea of him being second in command of the tribe was played so well by Jason Gardiner in general.

Swing → Will Lucas (UK & Europe Tour Cast 2013-2014.)
Will Lucas is unlucky enough to have had to follow on from my beloved Alex Durrant as Bill Bailey! Alex kinda became 'my' Bill Bailey in a way as he just stole my heart in the role and it was really the first time I'd paid attention to Bill beyond him being CB's friend. But Will replaced Alex so fantastically well so I feel cruel not making him first choice! He really is a superstar and a fantastic acrobat and just such an adorable Bill Bailey! I mean honestly, the trouble he and the other kittens got into! I love any Jellicle who plays along with the background-work and he is so good for that, a fabulous little playful kitten, I adored watching him annoy the hell out of Munkustrap and cause trouble with Carbucketty. He and Joel Morris were insanely good as a double act, I just spent most of Bustopher Jones watching them. Will Lucas' Bill is so mischievous and adorable! I think one of my favourite things is when he would try to run ahead of all the other Jellicles to greet Old Deuteronomy first and Munkustrap keeps trying to hold him back. That and his 'let's make trouble' high-five with CB at the start of The Old Gumbie Cat/his antics with CB in general.

Swing → Natasha Mould (UK & Europe Tour Cast 2014 & West End Revival Cast 2014-2015.)
Natasha Mould must be one of the sweetest Jemimas to ever appear onstage, that's just a fact. She came in with the cast change that saw Dawn Williams move from being Jemima to playing Rumplteazer, slotting in where Dawn had left off...and let me tell you, she didn't let the side down one little bit! She was every bit the perfect little Jemima Dawn was and then some! Her facial expression are to die for! And I simply adore her interations with the other Jellciles! Natasha just makes for a simply adorable little kitten...and her voice! Ohhh, I love hearing her sing Jemima's part in Moments of Happiness and Memory, so clear and soft and gorgeous! She's simply fantastic and I'd love to see her take on any one of the kittens!

Swing → Michael Gruber (Broadway & Cats Ultimate Edition Cast.)
A lot of people's first pick, I would imagine! He's a slightly more serious Munkustrap than my beloved Dean Maynard, but no-one can deny Michael Gruber put on a damn good show as the Jellicles' protector. I do love his portrayal in the video and for the longest time he was just the Munkustrap to me. I think his seriousness and his poise in the video was a beautiful way of doing things and works better on video as he didn't have the audience to play up to with his silliness like Dean had. I also love how much that seriousness makes for a good love-story between his Munkustrap and Demeter in the video because it just makes it seem more of an important detail in the show than perhaps the more light-hearted Munkustraps of the theatre might make it seem.

Swing → Axel Alvarez (Paris 2015-2016 & International Tour 2017 & 2019)
THE BALLET. Ok, so, Axel had a tough job, because he was onstage beside my dearest Carbucketty ever Joel Morris when I saw him in Antwerp in 2017. But damn, he rose to the challenge! His dancing, his lines, his touches of personality...I found myself falling in love with the character of Mistoffelees again the way I did when I was a kid watching Cats for the first time, and he made damn sure I kept an eye on him even when I was so focused on following every leap and turn of Carbucketty's. His solo as Mistoffelees was incredible and the "conjuring turns" were simply stunning, the speed and precision of those turns was wild and everything about his performance was simply beautiful. I wish I had been able to tell him in person, but Axel, if you're out there, you're honestly one of the the most beathtaking dancers I have ever had the priviledge to see and you truly brought such sweetness, shyness and beauty to the role of Mistoffelees!

Swing → Ryan Dixon (UK & Italy Tour 2007-2008 & Germany Tour 2008-2009.)
Ryan made such a beautiful, slinky Alonzo. And also, he was so ridiculously tall that his lines when he danced were spectacular. He was much less of the wacky Alonzo and much more Munkustrap's best friend and proud of it, which was a lovely different take to see on the character. His catlike mannerisms were perfect and he really made a sweet but sassy Alonzo...it was so tough to choose between him, Adam Lake, Peter Tyler and Jason Gardiner and James Darch because each of them plays a slightly different version of the role and I find something gorgeous in all those interpretations! I would probably have to have them all in there somewhere, but a dream cast without Ryan's stunning dancing? Not going to happen!

Swing/Assistant Dance Captain → Dane Quixall (European Tent Tour 2010-2013, UK & Europe Tour Cast 2014 & West End Revival Cast 2014-2015.)
Where do I even start?! So ok, he's another Carbucketty, so sue me!! BUT! Dane is SO MUCH MORE! He's one of those Chuck Him On And He'll Knock It Out The Park swings! You know the sort - understudies half the show and can shine in any single part just like he's been doing that part and only that part on repeat for ten years without stopping for sleep? Yeah, almost every Cats tour has one. I LOVE those swings!!! Anyway, I've seen Dane as Mungojerrie and as Carbucketty and honestly watching him dance is just...there aren't words! He's small but when he's dancing you'd think he were seven feet tall because of the lines he holds! He has this amazing ability as well to pick his landing position, spot it in mid-air and hold it, just coming down perfectly from a leap or turn...it's so amazing and graceful to watch! I'm angling after seeing him play Mistoffelees one day because of his dancing! But the stuff he puts into the character!! Especially as CB!!!!! His CB is so funny - he's a bit daft but definitely a handful! A lot less of an innocent getting pulled along into mischief by the other kittens, Dane's CB definitely knows he's causing chaos and he loves it! He plays him so bored of being told off and so super-excited to do his own thing, only to get pouty and sulky when the other cats tell him off for it! His star turn fo that HAS to be Pekes and the Pollicles, because he's SO excited to dress up and he's making all sorts of suggestions to Skimbleshanks for what they could do and it's just so sweet, and then the minute Munkustrap and Skimble tell him no, he has to behave, he starts slouching around sulking and putting no effort into his Pollicle performance at all, much to Munkustrap's dismay! Oh, Dane is just fabulous, ok!!

Swing → Matthew Caputo (UK & Europe Tour Cast 2013-2014.)
Matthew Caputo is basically amazing! He was a 2013 UK Tour swing (he was the designated Super Swing of 2013, in my opinion!) and I saw him play Bill Bailey amazingly well (when he was thrown on mid-show! Literally mid-show!!!) and I also saw him play Mungojerrie incredibly well (whole show start-to-finish!) He's just adorable, SO adorable! I would love to see him play any of the kittens, or even Mistoffelees, or Mungojerrie again because I would just love to see him bring out the mischief in every part. On top of the characterisation and the irresistable smile he has, he is also the most incredible dancer, I mean seriously, he's just stunning! I wish I had had the chance to see him play my favourite character CB, because if ever there was a part for someone adorable who is also a great dancer, then CB is the one! I bet he would've knocked it out of the park! So yes, as you can see, if he accepted any invite to join this dream cast of mine he'd probably find himself being one very busy swing, being sent on every second show and in a lot of different parts!! He's just this little bundle of loveliness and I reckon he could pull off pretty much any role you threw at him, even if you threw it at him half way through Act One! I wouldn't even put Victoria past him!!

Swing → Philip Comely (UK Tours including the Cats 25th Anniversary UK & Portugal Tour Cast 2006-2007.)
I saw Phil as Coricopat in the 2006-2007 tour and he totally had the Coricopat stare down - I think he went whole shows without blinking! One hot summer day he recited The Naming Of Cats right into my face with this bead of sweat going right down to the end of his nose and dripping off and he didn’t even flicker. He’s my perfect Coricopat for one specific event though…one time there was this girl sitting two rows behind me during the show, eating her popcorn seriously loudly the whole way through. In the Finale, Phil crept closer and closer towards her, not once breaking his stare as he hovered right in front of her. This girl was practically hypnotized by this point - and that’s when he made his move. He picked up this bucket of popcorn and tipped all the remaining contents over her head before running away. It was so funny even the popcorn-covered girl had to burst out laughing. The theatre’s ushers probably hated him afterwards though!

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