Following up on the survey undertaken earlier this year (survey news story), and to co-incide with the Phantom 25th Anniversary, The Really Useful Group has announce the immediate availability of Cats and Phantom of the Opera for performances by schools and Colleges in the UK and Ireland.

Andrew Lloyd Webber said “One of the first pieces I wrote was Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. It was originally written for a school. Later it was expanded to be a full length stage show but I still get a kick out of seeing it performed in the way it began over forty years ago”. He went on “No way was either Cats or The Phantom Of The Opera written for schools even if TS Eliot did write his brilliant cat poems for his godchildren. But such is the extraordinary growth of interest in musicals at grass root level all over the world, plus the astonishing capabilities of our younger performers, that now schools, colleges and amateur societies put on productions that give professionals a huge run for their money” adding “I am therefore delighted that Cats and Phantom are available to be performed by schools and colleges for the first time.  Good luck and have fun!”.

Cats and Phantom will join the list if shows already available which includes; By Jeeves, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, The Likes of Us and Sunset Boulevard. Further shows are already under consideration including; Starlight Express, Whistle Down the Wind, and The Beautiful Game which would be renamed “The Boys in the Photograph”. For details and licences groups must contact the Really Useful Group Licensing Department in the first instance.

It is rumoured that Cats is to make a welcome return to the West End soon …. Phantom of the Opera tickets are available via SeatChoice where it consistently forms part of the West End Top 10 shows.