Barnum – Bord Gáis Energy Theatre – Review
Dates: 14 – 18 April 2026

BARNUM – Produced by Bill Kenwright Ltd

This is the story of Phineas Taylor Barnum, the great showman, businessman, and politician, who is known as the impresario behind many spectacular circus events and museums. He was born in Connecticut in 1810. We first meet P.T. Barnum (Lee Mead) in the early part of his business career, when he is already married to his wife Charity (Monique Young). He is starting several ventures, which are often hoaxes, such as the world’s oldest woman, who is 160 years old at the time of the show (Thank God I’m Old). The musical follows his career and also his relationship with his wife during the period from 1835 through to 1880.

You may not have heard of Barnum – The Circus Musical previously, but this is not a new musical. It was first staged in 1980, and there have been several large-scale revivals over the years. The success of the 2017 film The Greatest Showman may have featured in the minds of the producers of this show, as it shares the same source material. The Book for the musical is written by Mark Bramble, for which he received a Tony nomination. The music is by composer, songwriter and jazz pianist Cy Coleman, with lyrics by Michael Stewart.

Lee Mead is a star in the West End, along with featuring regularly in Holby City and Casualty, and his portrayal of Barnum is that of an affable scamp who is always willing to take a risk to make a quick buck. His wife Charity, played by Monique Young, is the voice of reason in his life, who often tries to pull him back onto the straight and narrow. She loves her husband but also wishes he were less inclined to ‘Humbug’, which the dictionary defines as dishonest talk, deception or fraud. Much of his early shows featured elaborate hoaxes, such as a living mermaid. Barnum’s American Museum was one of his first ventures and included beluga whales along with lions, tigers and other more unusual spectacles. The production features the world’s smallest man, General Tom Thumb (Fergus Rattigan), along with Jumbo the elephant (created using puppets similar to those in War Horse).

The production gives us a stage within a stage, as we see the circus complete with boxes on either side. The action takes place in a variety of settings, but other than changes to the backdrop, there are no substantial alterations to the space. There is much left to the imagination of the viewer, but it is a colourful and impressive setting.

Barnum’s life was an endless cavalcade of spectacle and glamour, and it is perfect material for a musical. The unusual aspect is that this story does not dwell on the failed ventures or the problems in his marriage; instead, we get a positive slant on almost everything. This means there is no standard story arc or hero’s journey. What the musical does deliver is some impressive singing, along with the colour of the circus, all compressed into a two-and-a-half-hour show! Even with the passionate singers on stage, your eyes are often pulled elsewhere to see the other performers swing through the air. The cast features many aerialists, tumblers, acrobats, and fire eaters, and the stage is often filled with light and colour as they all move in unison. Despite the flimsy storyline, you can expect a big and bold production that is extravagant and fun.