Birmingham Hippodrome – until 25th April 2026
Reviewed by Emma Millward
4****
Barnum – The Circus Musical arrived at Birmingham Hippodrome this week, telling the story of the ‘Greatest Showman’ P.T. Barnum. Directed by Jonathan O’Boyle, with a book by Mark Bramble, lyrics by Michael Stewart, and music by Cy Coleman. From the start the circus comes to life through constant movement, with acrobats and other performers weaving in and out of scenes. This truly adds to the excitement and unpredictability of the show, making it feel alive and dynamic. However, there are times when the sheer amount of action on stage can become a little too much, and it can be hard to pay attention to the narrative.
Lee Mead leads the production with confidence and charm, clearly comfortable in Barnum’s larger-than-life shoes. He brings the expected warmth and charisma to such a well-known role. His portrayal captures the showman side of Barnum, but the more thoughtful aspects of the character don’t always have the same impact, making some parts of the character feel a little underexplored. Alongside him is his wife Charity (Monique Young), who disagrees with his use of “humbug” and hype to further his career. Along the way Barnum introduces us to General Tom Thumb (Fergus Rattigan) and Joice Heth (Dominique Planter), allegedly ‘the oldest woman alive’. He also promotes and begins an ill-advised dalliance with Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind (Penny Ashmore). The three leading ladies all have their chance to showcase their vocal talents, especially Penny Ashmore during the musical number ‘Jenny Lind’s Obbligato’
Lee Newby’s set and costume design are vibrant and eye-catching. Newby’s creative set design makes it easy to move from one scene to the next. Jai Morjaria’s beautiful lighting adds to the sense of spectacle and helps set different moods. Choreographers Oti Mabuse and Matt Nicholson and Circus Director Amy Panter take every opportunity to add dancing and circus craft into the show including an inventive section where a restaurant table is set by the acrobatic performers. Special mention must be given to puppet designers Mervyn Millar and Tracy Waller who brought Jumbo the Elephant to life for a brief, but awe-inspiring moment in the show that clearly wowed the audience. I also enjoyed noticing that Jumbo had his own credit in the show’s programme!
There are recurring mentions of Barnum’s ambition, and the risks that come with them, but they aren’t explored as deeply as they could be. Because of this, some of the more important moments don’t have the impact that they could have. The ensemble and supporting cast bring plenty of energy, especially in the bigger musical numbers. The cast sing and perform (on over 150 instruments) with clear enthusiasm, even if the songs aren’t always the most memorable.
That being said, it’s hard not to get caught up in the show’s energy. The audience is always enthusiastic, and there is a real sense of fun that runs through the performance. It might not be perfect, but it knows how to be entertaining. Barnum is a colourful, energetic show that fully embraces the spectacle of the circus, even if it frequently feels like it’s trying to do too much at once. It’s a fun and enjoyable production that has a lot to offer, even if it doesn’t always reach the emotional depth it appears to be aiming for. Bright, bold, and often a little too busy, Barnum still delivers a delightful night at the theatre, packed with strong performances and theatrical flair.
#BarnumMusical #BirminghamHippodrome #LeeMead #MoniqueYoung #FergusRattigan #DominiquePlanter #PennyAshmore #JonathanOBoyle #MarkBramble #MichaelStewart #CyColeman #LeeNewby #JaiMorjaria #OtiMabuse #MattNicholson #AmyPanter #MervynMillar #TracyWaller