Review: Cats – Apex, Bury St Edmunds
What better way to finish 2016 than with Cats at the Apex in Bury St Edmunds.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats is based on T.S. Elliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. This superb musical allows each Cat to tell it’s story, there’s lots of favourites including Rum Tum Tugger, Macavity, Mr Mistoffelees, Jennyanydots, Old Deuteronomy and of course Grizabella.
Cats is one of the longest running musicals in the world (having been presented in over 30 countries and translated into 15 languages).
The show includes fantastic and memorable songs, the most famous of course being the show-stopping Memory.
The production at The Apex is actually a Youth Production performed by Ipswich-based CTC (The Children’s Theatre Company). This company is the brainchild of Bridie Rowe who formed the company in 2009 and encourages and coaches youngsters in theatre art.
So having said that this is a Youth Am-Dram production do not be put off. Throughout the performance I had to constantly remind myself that I was not watching a West End or official touring version of Cats, such is the high standard that CTC have achieved with this show.
The songs are of course first class, but add to that excellent costumes and make-up, choreography that is imaginative and inspired and some of the finest up and coming talent in the country, let alone the county and you will begin to understand why this performance has totally blown this reviewer away!
The show is full-on from the opening number through to the Finale, most of the cast are on the stage non-stop. Not wanting to single out anyone member of the cast as they ALL are extremely talented…. but Maia Elsey is wonderful as Grizabella and her rendition of Memory really does lift the roof of the Apex.
I saw the matinee show on New Year’s Eve, my last show of 2016 but I can honestly say that CTC’s production of CATS is easily the best Am-Dram Musical I have seen in 2016, with the show running to Monday 2nd January 2017 it could be your chance to make it your best in 2017.
Cats is at The Apex until Monday 2nd January (matinee and evening performances). Box office 01284 758000.
Performance times:
– Monday 2 January – 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Tickets: £21 Adults / £18 Children
Venue: The Apex, Bury St Edmunds
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Review: Mark Keable, Ipswich24 Magazine
Pictures Mike Kwasniak