Kings Theatre Portsmouth – until 14 March 2026
Reviewed by Lucy Hitchcock
4****
Roll Up, Roll Up, the circus of the century is in town-I doubt you’ve ever see anything like this before and P.T.Barnum’s should be your first stop!
After a long time away from the stage, Johnathon O’Boyle directs the most energetic musical you’ll see! Starring Tom Sterling as the titular P.T.Barnum (a role also played by Lee Mead), this musical will delight, excite and entertain you. As we go through the life of Barnum and his rise to fame in 1800’s America, the theatre is transformed into a big top circus tent, where over 150 instruments are played by the cast as they sing, dance and perform acrobatics and aerial stunts! We see how P.T.Barnum is ‘humbugging’ the nations with his ‘oddities’-Joice who is over 160 years old, general Tom Thumb who is only 25 inches tall and Jenny Lind-the Swedish nightingale.
Choreographed by Oti Mabuse, the dancing with this performance was really slick and when interspersed with the scene changes, allowed for a transportation that didn’t remove the audiences attention. Musically-this was an absolute triumph. The talent within the cast palpable! The cast were changing instruments midway through song, as well as singing, dancing and performing circus tricks-I was completely in awe with their performances. The only criticism I found, was where the band was so integral to the performance, the singing was difficult to hear on a couple of the songs-particularly the patter style ‘Museum Song’. However, the stand out performance was Penny Ashmore as ‘Jenny Lind’. She played piano, sang with the ensemble but also performed a beautiful obbligato whilst playing the harp-and in Swedish! It was truly breathtaking.
There was not a moment in this show where I was left detracted from the performance. I was in awe at every moment of the show and the circus elements added so much – I don’t believe there could have been a better casting due to the extraordinary talent displayed on stage.
This is a show for adults and children alike, there is something to tantalise everyone.