Dame Gillian Lynne, choreographer of CATS (and MANY other musicals) died last night at age 92.
In 1976 Trevor Nunn, as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company season at Stratford-upon-Avon, decided to direct A Comedy of Errors as a musical and asked Gillian–already a legendary modern dance choreographer–to design the dances.
This was the first time she had worked with Trevor–and soon after they went on to create the world famous production of Cats.
We had just thee weeks to put it on, at the height of the hottest summer since the war.
I was cast in the small part of Dr Pinch–a charlatan and a scoundrel passing himself off as a magician with special powers.
The composer wrote me a song which lasted seven minutes–and more or less represented my part.
Gillian was a hard taskmaster; she worked me into the ground. She had to–to get me to sing the words and dance the steps in the right order and in time with music.
Every morning before rehearsals, she insisted we all came in and did a forty minute warm-up session–not something actors were accustomed to doing. There were grumbles.
She had already done her stretches for an hour-and-a-half.
As a dancer, earlier in her career she had suffered numerous injuries–and had to do this routine in order to move fluently throughout the day’s rehearsals.
It sounds grim, but she was a performer herself and knew how vulnerable actors are when they are trying something outside their comfort zone.
She was a 100% present for us and managed to make us believe we could do it!
Hard work can achieve the near impossible–with someone like Gillian, prodding you on.
It was one of the most enjoyable and unforgettable experiences of my professional life.
Gillian Lynne was an indomitable spirit and last week the theatre where CATS ran for years was renamed for her–not before time.
The singing and dancing starts about four minutes into this overlong excerpt:
Robin Ellis 
WoW!!
Yes, she was extraordinary! And what a fun performance you gave.
Hi Constantine!
Sorry for your loss, Robin. She does sound like an incredible woman! Reminds me of a tough coach we had at school: he worked everyone to the bone, sometimes putting his players in tears, but he would do ANYTHING for them, and they won the title year after year. I so love that number from You Tube….Looks like you all had a lot of fun!!
I really enjoyed watching this. I had no clue that you were a song and dance guy as well as an actor. Those long legs of yours were everywhere, lol. Too fun!
Robin, you were wonderful and I’m so happy you were able to work with such a talented woman, what a memory for you.
My condolences On the loss of your friend.
I truly enjoyed the clip with Poldark dancing! A side of you never seen. You are a multitalented person!
Dr. Pinch! So much fun to watch.
Oh. My. Word. So fun to see you singing and dancing, and almost unrecognizable!? But your voice gives you away. Thanks for sharing this!
Were you twerking?!
Absolutely fabulous performance. I wish I could have seen it in person.
I’m so sorry for your loss, the older we get, the more life reminds us of our mortality, but, none the less, it’s hard to lose friends at any age.
Very sad to hear of Gillian’s death – judging by ‘CATS’ she must have been phenomenal! Did you sing in the chapel choir at Highgate, Robin? You can certainly sing! Pity you haven’t used that side of you more. I certainly wouldn;t have recognised you visually, but as someone has already said, your voice gave you away!
I didn’t sing in the choir but I sang in the chapel!
I find singing in chapels, especially if it’s a really good acoustic, very kind to one’s voice! I must now look you up on YouTube to see more of your exploits!
Our church has a v good acoustic.
Right, that’s it – I now expect to see a clip of you singing in the church, something suitable, naturally!
I’ve long admired her work and I was sorry to hear of her death – my sympathies on your loss. Loved the clip — haven’t seen you sing and dance since “She Loves Me,” which I think is now on youtube! I’ll have to take a look.
Our deepest condolences for your loss Robin, but what an inspirational woman. I had the honour of meeting Gillian on a dull rainy day when I was not feeling too great, but I soon came away feeling I had the world at my feet & the sun was shining. Some people have it & this lady certainly did.
Hello Robin Do not know if any of my comments are coming through to your page as I longer use WordPress which seems to be the only way to log into your blog. Is there another way to subscribe to your blog without using WordPress?
Thank you Best wishes
Diane Shawdian Uttley Shawdian GBS🌹 Georgebernardshaw.net >
Awesome!! Such very hard work, but so rewarding!! Working with a total pro makes all the difference!
Robin, a lovely tribute to your friend and great artist. And what a fantastic recording of that musical piece. Great singing and dancing, and so good to see many familiar British faces from later TV shows! Thank you so much for sharing 💗regards, Pamela
ps. is there a cast list online somewhere?
Fun part to play. Lovely to see.
Dear Sir
Wonderful excerpt.
Shows a stage side of your career one only gets an inkling of, in Poldark.
(Wish there were the whole play to see.)
I was in London, quote studying, and had not the presence of mind to go up to Stratford. I went once, but for Coriolanus!
All the best
Well, Dr. Pinch — theater magic was whirling at maximum capacity in that video excerpt! I too, am sorry about the loss of your friend, but what better tribute to her memory than to share her creative vision with a new audience?
Fantastic. You could have played Tevye!