On his first visit to India, British theater personality Matt Crazan is serving as the local director of the international production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical. cats, Which will be staged at Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Center (NMACC), Mumbai.
“cats It is unique because it is a completely sung show and it is deeply associated with dance. We are taking the audience to a different world where humans are cats roaming in a junkyard. It’s a magical show because it allows you to believe and be moved,” says Matt.
Created by Andrew Lloyd Webber, this production is renowned for its visionary stagecraft and groundbreaking artistry. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
catswhich premiered in London’s West End in 1981, is based on TS Eliot’s 1939 collection of poems. The Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. First directed by Sir Trevor Nunn, this musical traces the story of a tribe of cats called the Jellicles.
She has had a long association with Matt, originally an actor cats In many capacities. Although joseph and the technicolor dreamcoat This was the first Lloyd Webber show that Matt saw live, a must see cats Over and over again on video, until he saw a stage performance at the age of 17.
Professionally, he first became involved in cats in 2004. “I got the job when I was at college. I was basically a swing, which means you play a number of roles and go on stage when someone is injured or on holiday. I rejoined the cast two years later and played Macavity, touring the UK and Italy. I went on to play Munkstrap at the London Palladium which was a dream come true. I was inspired by director Sir Trevor Nunn and choreographer Dame Gillian Lynne. Got a chance to work together,” he says.
Matt Krazan has a long-standing association with cats In many capacities. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
After this, Matt took over the position of dance captain. “This meant I had to maintain the standard and quality of dancing within the show. I toured the UK and other countries. A few years later, I joined the South Korean cast, also taking on the role of Munkstrap and leading the show as resident director.”
Created by Lloyd Webber, this production is renowned for its visionary stagecraft and unprecedented artistry. John Napier’s expansive junkyard set transforms the stage into a fantastical playground, while Lynn’s choreography and Nunn’s direction create a rich dramatic world. The score includes the songs ‘Old Deuteronomy’, ‘Macavity: The Mystery Cat’, ‘The Jellicle Ball’ and the hugely popular ‘Memory’. In the Mumbai show, Peter McCarthy will be the music supervisor.
Matt says that the cast of the production was put together through an extensive audition process where they first danced a part of the show and then sang a song of their choice. He adds, “Every character in the show has their own identity and our director, Chrissy Cartwright, has a talent for identifying actors and fitting them into the right role.”
This particular cast was assembled last October. “He performed in South Africa for more than two months and took a short break. We will rehearse before coming back to Mumbai.”
Matt explains that since the musical is based on Eliot’s work, the poetry is as important to the show as the music. “We have extensive rehearsal sessions to learn the melodies and harmonies and especially the intonation and pronunciation to make the words and poetry sound as clear as possible.”
This is the second Lloyd Webber production to be staged at the NMACC. In March 2025, the Phantom of the Opera It was a successful race. matts feels cats It’s a truly intense theatrical experience created at a time when this was not a common experience. “The real meaning behind the show is a story of acceptance and forgiveness, something that is always relevant, today more than ever.”
cats It is a completely sung and dance show. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Although Matt grew up watching Hollywood musicals, he felt drawn to musical theater because of the live element. “My early influences would have been movies like Gene Kelly During Christmas And all the Disney musical films. When I realized they weren’t that popular anymore and weren’t made anymore, I figured musical theater was the closest genre I could pursue. I went to a musical theater school every week for most of my childhood and then went to the London Studio Centre, where I trained in dance, singing and acting every day for three years,” he shared.
Matt has also been associated with productions like matilda, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, chicago, priscilla queen of the desert, Wicked And Starlight Express. Role of Resident Director for cats Adds a new dimension to his work.
Cats will be staged from June 17 to 28 at the Grand Theater of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Center (NMACC), Mumbai.
published – May 29, 2026 05:45 PM IST