Cats
Poster
1981 (designed), 1981 (printed)
1981 (designed), 1981 (printed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This poster, advertising the opening of Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber at the New London Theatre in 1981, is one of the iconic posters of the 20th century. Its deceptively simple design presents a cat's eyes with silhouettes of dancers for pupils. Instantly recognisable, it also hints at what you will experience in the theatre - the mysteriousness within the eyes peering out of the darkness, and the dancers reflected in them.
Cats has been translated into more than 20 languages and ran for 8,949 performances in London, with its final performance on its 21st birthday. It was the world's longest running musical, until Les Misérables surpassed it on October 8, 2006.
Cats has been translated into more than 20 languages and ran for 8,949 performances in London, with its final performance on its 21st birthday. It was the world's longest running musical, until Les Misérables surpassed it on October 8, 2006.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Cats (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Offset lithography |
| Brief description | Poster advertising the opening of Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber at the New London Theatre, April 30th 1981 |
| Physical description | Black poster with two yellow cats eyes in the top third, the pupils of which are abstract depictions of dancers. At the bottom is the title, CATS, in white brushstroke writing, and details of the musical's writer and opening date. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Mass produced |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Literary reference | T.S. Elliot's <i>Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats</i> |
| Summary | This poster, advertising the opening of Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber at the New London Theatre in 1981, is one of the iconic posters of the 20th century. Its deceptively simple design presents a cat's eyes with silhouettes of dancers for pupils. Instantly recognisable, it also hints at what you will experience in the theatre - the mysteriousness within the eyes peering out of the darkness, and the dancers reflected in them. Cats has been translated into more than 20 languages and ran for 8,949 performances in London, with its final performance on its 21st birthday. It was the world's longest running musical, until Les Misérables surpassed it on October 8, 2006. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.2415-1994 |
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| Record created | May 2, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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