Broadway's Cats drops 'racist' song for Leona Lewis production

The song had previously been altered to remove the use of racist language within its lyrics

Cats may not be the oldest production on Broadway's stage, having premiered in 1981, but that hasn't necessarily avoided the need for sprucing up.

The Sun reports the Andrew Lloyd Webber show has made the decision to drop the song, 'Growltiger's Last Stand', which saw the cast utilising stereotyped Asian accents in recounting an invasion of Growltiger's barge by the Siamese cats, who eventually make Growltiger walk the plank.

The show has undergone several alterations in the past, with the song already proving a problem due to the original's use of racist language; the line "with a frightful burst of fireworks, the ch**ks they swarmed aboard" previously altered to "with a frightful burst of fireworks, the Siamese they swarmed aboard".

'Growltiger's Last Stand' will no longer feature in the Broadway staging of the show, the first in 16 years, with a theatre source stating; "It was one of the most notable changes in the new production and shows how much attitudes have changed since it first opened in 1981."

The revival features three-time Grammy nominee Leona Lewis in the iconic role of Grizabella, acting as a late stand-in for Nicole Scherzinger, who had previously led the London cast of the musical.

Grizabella's role is best known for the performance of the musical's lead song, "Memories"; with Lewis' performance largely praised by critics.