STEP RIGHT UP!
AS FULL CASTING IS REVEALED FOR BARNUM
TOURING THE UK AND IRELAND FROM FEBRUARY 2026
“A DAZZLING, ALL-SINGING, ALL-JUGGLING MUSICAL”
The Observer
Roll up, roll up for the greatest show on earth!
Bill Kenwright Ltd is delighted to announce that it will present Barnum, 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. Originally produced at the Watermill Theatre, this major new touring production will open at Theatre Royal Windsor on Tuesday 3 February 2026 (previews from Friday 30 January).
West End favourite and TV star Lee Mead will take centre stage as the legendary P.T. Barnum. Lee is best known for his breakout win on Any Dream Will Do and acclaimed performances in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Wicked and Legally Blonde.
The production will also be extending into the autumn of next year, with Matt Rawle (Cabaret; Evita; Les Misérables) reprising his critically acclaimed performance as P.T Barnum, with autumn dates starting at Newcastle Theatre Royal on Tuesday 12 August.
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.
They are joined by Elena Bluck, Gianpaolo Candelaria, Eamonn Cox, James Gill, Jessica Jolleys, Kevin Oliver Jones, Emma Jane Morton, Sophie Precious Muringu, Lennin Nelson-McClure, Emily Odunsi, André Rodrigues, Ben Scott,Laura Sillett, Tom Sowinski, Tom Sterling and Niki Tsonopoulou.
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!
Come follow the band with the glorious music of multi-award-winner Cy Coleman, Michael Stewart’s lyrics and Mark Bramble’s book. The show features a whole host of classic show tunes including Join the Circus, Colours of My Life, Come Follow the Band and Love Makes Such Fools of Us All.
This musical classicfirst took the UK by storm when it played the London Palladium, with Michael Crawford making theatrical history with a death-defying nightly tightrope walk across the stage. And now Lee Mead and Matt Rawle step into his shoes and onto the tightrope!
The production is directed by Jonathan O’Boyle (Picture You Dead; The Last Five Years) andchoreographed by Oti Mabuse (Strictly Come Dancing). The creative team alsoincludesGeorge 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 was originally produced on the Broadway stage by Judy Gordon, Cy Coleman, Maurice and Lois F. Rosenfield in association with Irwin Feld and Kenneth Feld.
LISTINGS
Bill Kenwright Ltd presents The Watermill Theatre production of
BARNUM
MUSIC BY CY COLEMAN
LYRICS BY MICHAEL STEWART
BOOK BY MARK BRAMBLE
Director Jonathan O’Boyle
Choreographer Oti Mabuse
Arranger, Orchestrator & Musical Supervisor George Dyer
Set & Costume Designer Lee Newby
Co-Choreographer Matt Nicholson
Lighting Designer Jai Morjaria
Sound Designer Tom Marshall
Circus Director Amy Panter
Musical Director Kevin Oliver Jones
Circus Instructors Iona Luvsandorj & Sabrina Joshua
Circus Consultants Zippos Circus & The National Centre for Circus Arts
Puppet Designers Meryvn Millar & Tracy Walker for Significant Object
Puppetry Director Helen Foan for Significant Object
Website: www.kenwright.com
TOUR SCHEDULE 2026
STARRING LEE MEAD:
30 Jan – 7 Feb Windsor Theatre Royal
10 – 14 Feb Manchester Palace Theatre
24 – 28 Feb York Grand Opera House
3 – 7 Mar Brighton Theatre Royal
10 – 14 Mar Portsmouth Kings Theatre
17 – 21 Mar Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre
24 – 28 Mar Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
31 Mar – 4 Apr Bradford Alhambra Theatre
7 – 11 Apr Cheltenham Everyman Theatre
14 – 18 April Dublin Bord Gáis Energy Theatre
21 – 25 Apr Birmingham Hippodrome
28 Apr – 2 May Sheffield Lyceum Theatre
5 – 9 May Swindon Wyvern Theatre
19 – 23 May Woking New Victoria Theatre
26 – 30 May Nottingham Playhouse
2 – 6 Jun Hull New Theatre
9 – 13 Jun Blackpool Opera House
16 – 20 Jun Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
23 – 27 Jun Richmond Theatre
30 Jun – 4 Jul Southend Cliffs Pavilion
STARRING MATT RAWLE:
12 – 15 Aug Newcastle Theatre Royal
25 – 29 Aug Torquay Princess Theatre
1 – 5 Sep Leicester Curve
8 – 12 Sep Milton Keynes Theatre
15 – 19 Sep Liverpool Empire
22 – 26 Sep Canterbury Marlowe Theatre
29 Sep – 3 Oct London New Wimbledon Theatre
6 – 10 Oct Edinburgh Festival Theatre
13 – 17 Oct Belfast Grand Opera House
20 – 24 Oct Eastbourne Congress Theatre
27 – 31 Oct Malvern Festival Theatre