Cats (the critters, not the musical) to Return to London Theatres?
Theatrical cats like Ike the piano playing cat (right) could be reintroduced to London’s theatre district as part of an ongoing bid to improve actors’ working conditions in the West End.
The strategy has been proposed to address complaints of rats, sewage and insufficient backstage facilities in a number of the capital’s ageing venues. It’s just part of a strategy to prompt theatre owners to rectify the problems.
If the proposal is passed the union will push for a widespread reintroduction of cats to theatre buildings in a bid to combat the proliferation of vermin therein. According to the motion, there has been a “marked rise in vermin infestation” over the last few years and notes that cats not only represent “an environmentally sound alternative to poison and traps, but [are] also good for morale”.
However, Richard Pulford, SOLT’s chief executive, casts doubts on the effectiveness of Equity’s proposal, saying, “My understanding is that rats normally see off cats. And if anybody knows a building in central London with substantial basements which doesn’t have rats, they are doing pretty well.”
Famous London Theatre Cats
Over the years, West End cats have achieved pinnacles of renown that their thespian friends might well envy. Here are just a couple of the famous felines:
Beerbohm was perhaps the most famous of the London theatre cats, a resident at the Gielgud Theatre from the 70s until the early 90s, when he retired to Kent with the theatre’s carpenter. Described as a “regal looking tabby,” he was known for venturing out on the boards at least once during each performance. He died peacefully in March 1995 and a photo of him still hangs in the Gielgud. He is the only cat to have received an obituary in The Stage.
Boy Cat (pictured, right) resided at the Noel Coward Theatre. Boy Cat famously ate Princess Margaret’s bouquet at a royal gala and jumped onto the stage during a performance of the musical Five Guys Named Moe.
Lilian resided at the St George’s theatre in Islington, and was known for sitting in the third row of the stalls.
Sadler frequented the Sadler’s Wells Theatre. He disappeared under mysterious circumstances early in February 1956, weeks before he was to star in a run of School for Fathers.
[LINK: TheStage.co.uk, and 100 Cats Who Changed Civilization, History's Most Influential Felines. PHOTO: Catherine Gerbrands]
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