Andrew Lloyd Webber’s extraordinary 2015 Olivier award-nominated musical, CATS will be performed for the first time in Dubai, for ten days only from the 16th until 25th January 2017. Adapted from TS Eliot’s ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’, this wonderful blend of fantasy, drama and romance is set on the night that the Jellicle Cats meet for the Jellicle Ball in a sparkling fusion of music, dance and verse. With an amazing musical score that includes the timeless “Memory”, spectacular set designs, stunning costumes and breath-taking choreography, CATS is a magical musical like no other. The show has also been honoured with 2 Grammy and 7 Tony awards. No wonder that it has been one of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history, and has enchanted over 73 million people in over 300 cities worldwide. This once in a lifetime show is going to be the ‘purr-fect’ start to your 2017! Ticket prices start from Dhs 275 and are on sale now at www.dubaiopera.com.
Where were you born?
I was born in the Philippines, but left the country at 17 for London to perform in Miss Saigon. My first flat was located on Robert Street off The Strand with a gorgeous rooftop view of the Thames and Big Ben. I instantly fell in love with London.
Home is usually where my family is. Apart from the UK, I also have family in the USA, Canada and Philippines and I consider all those countries my home. I am really like Charlie Chaplin who considered himself as a citizen of the world.
One of the reasons why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is because I have friends living in the cities that we are scheduled to visit. I have performed in some of those places too. I’ve done numerous concerts and tours around the globe in the past and I’ve spent holidays in some of these places already. More than anything, I enjoy living out of a suitcase. It’s a form of escapism.
What was your first professional stage role?
It was the role of Kim in Miss Saigon (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) in the West End of London.
What inspired you to go into acting?
I got into it purely by accident, I actually started off as a singer. Singing was a hobby of mine. Miss Saigon was a major thing in my country and when the creative team came back to the Philippines to look for new cast members for their London production, I tried my luck and auditioned for a whole week complete with dancing, singing and acting. A couple of months later, they told me I was successful in my audition. I then flew to London with my mum who accompanied me and the rest is history.
Do you have any family who are or have been in the industry?
Our family is pretty musical. They sing and play instruments, some professionally too. I’m the only one who purely did singing and acting the longest and made a living out of it.
What prompted you to audition for CATS?
When I heard Jellicle Ball played at a concert once, I just had to find out which show it came from. I watched CATS and fell in love with the show and the songs. I was a teenager when I saw it and I knew I’d be too young to play Grizabella then, but I always had my eye on that part. After having played the part, it still remains a favourite of mine. Being part of the show made me fall in love with it much more.
CATS is showing at Dubai Opera between the 16th and 25th January 2017. Tickets start from Dhs 275 and are available from www.dubaiopera.com and www.ticketmaster.ae.
5 things you didn’t know about cats!
- Some cats like water and will actually paddle or swim in it. The Turkish Angora in particular is known to be drawn to water.
- Cats can get sick from eating chocolate just as dogs do.
- Cats are farsighted, because their eyes are so large they can’t focus on anything closer than a foot to them.
- On average the domestic cat spends two thirds of its life asleep!
- Cats don’t have collarbones, this allows to the flexibility to fit into spaces you didn’t think possible.