Roll up, roll up for the greatest show on earth!
Swindon Theatres are delighted that Barnum: The Circus Musical, the classic Broadway musical by Cy Coleman (music), Michael Stewart (lyrics) and Mark Bramble (book) that celebrates the life of the world’s greatest showman, P.T. Barnum will visit Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre in May.
Step right up and enter the dazzling world of P.T. Barnum, where imagination and ambition know no bounds. Hand in hand with wife Charity, Barnum’s life and career twist and turn as he schemes and dreams his way to headier heights.
This spectacular production will feature an extraordinary ensemble cast of actor-musicians, acrobats and amazing circus acts. Audiences are certain to delight at every sight, wonder and miracle that the name Barnum stands for!
West End favourite and TV star Lee Mead will take centre stage as the legendary P.T. Barnum. Since coming to fame in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 2007 after he won the public vote on the BBC talent show, Lee Mead has starred in Wicked, Legally Blonde, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Chicago and Sister Act, to name just a few of his many credits. “But this is definitely my most challenging role,” he admits. “It’s one of those rare roles for a leading man. It’s an enormous part, with huge monologues and so many songs, and I don’t think I leave the stage for two hours, apart from the interval of course.”
Then there’s the tightrope walking, which Lee has trained intensely for over several months. “It’s the kind of thing you learn at 24, not 44,” he laughs, “so I’ve had to get myself fit and put in the work. The rope is about 7ft off the ground and, although I trained with a harness on, there’s no harness during the show itself. You have to use your whole body, your whole core and every ounce of your focus and energy to get across that wire, but I like a challenge.”
Does he also get to play an instrument in the show? Lee grins. “I don’t, no. I already have enough to do with the acting, singing, dancing and tightrope walking!”
Starring alongside Lee are Monique Young (Mary Poppins) as Charity Barnum, Penny Ashmore (Dr Strangelove) as Jenny Lind, Dominique Planter (The Lion King) as Joice Heth, and Fergus Rattigan (The Wizard of Oz) as General Tom Thumb.
The production is directed by Jonathan O’Boyle (Picture You Dead; The Last Five Years) and choreographed by Oti Mabuse (Strictly Come Dancing). The creative team also includes George Dyer (Arranger, Orchestrator & Musical Supervisor), Lee Newby (Set & Costume Designer), Matt Nicholson (Co-Choreographer), Jai Morjaria (Lighting Designer), Tom Marshall (Sound Designer), Amy Panter (Circus Director), Kevin Oliver Jones (Musical Director), Jess Ellen Knight (Associate Director), Iona Luvsandorj and Sabrina Joshua (Circus Instructors), Zippos Circus and The National Centre for Circus Arts (Circus Consultants), Mervyn Millar and Tracy Waller for Significant Object (Puppet Designers) and Helen Foan for Significant Object (Puppetry Director).
Barnum: The Circus Musical is at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon from Wednesday 6th – Sunday 10th May with tickets available here https://trafalgartickets.com/wyvern-theatre-swindon/en-GB/event/musical/barnum-tickets .
