In May 1981, the New London Theatre saw something revolutionary. Refraining from traditional storytelling, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats, based on TS Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats relied on dance, movement, and physical theatre, with performers undergoing rigorous training to embody feline characters. Its immersive set extended into the audience, while elaborate costumes and makeup became iconic. It ran for 18 years (London production ran for 21 years), won several awards and returned to the stage 12 years ago in a new avatar. And now, this iconic global musical will be staged in Mumbai.

Set over one magical night, Cats follows the Jellicle Cats as they gather beneath the Jellicle moon, hoping to be chosen for a new life. Cindy Ann Abrahams, who plays Grizabella, tells Sunday mid-day that she approaches it from a very human place. “She’s isolated, but there’s still so much pride and strength in her. Most people know what it feels like to want acceptance and feel shut out at some point in their lives, so I lean into that honesty every night. Even in her weakest moments, I never see her as broken; there’s still dignity in her.”