Barnum 2026 UK Tour

Bill Kenwright Ltd presents

the Watermill Theatre Production

LEE MEAD
STARS AS THE WORLD’S GREATEST SHOWMAN

BARNUM

THE CIRCUS MUSICAL

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 twists and turns as he schemes and dreams his way to headier heights.

 

West End favourite and TV star Lee Mead will take centre stage as the legendary 19th century showman P.T. Barnum. Lee shot to stardom with his breakout win on Any Dream Will Do and acclaimed performances in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatWicked, and Legally Blonde.

 

This spectacular new staging will feature an extraordinary ensemble cast of over 20 actor-musicians playing 150 instruments, acrobats and amazing circus acts. Audiences are certain to delight at every sight, wonder and miracle that the name Barnum stands for!

 

Barnum first 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 steps into Barnum’s shoes and on to the tightrope!

 

Come follow the band with the glorious music of multi-award-winner Cy Coleman, Michael Stewart’s lyrics and Mark Bramble’s book. Barnum 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.

Cast & Creative

CAST

 

LEE MEAD STARS AS P.T. BARNUM

CREATIVE

Music by

CY COLEMAN

Lyrics by

MICHAEL STEWART

Book by

MARK BRAMBLE

Director

JONATHAN O’BOYLE

Designer

LEE NEWBY

Circus Director

AMY PANTER

Musical Supervisor, Arrangements & Orchestrations

GEORGE DYER

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. 

Quotes

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“The dazzling all-singing, all-juggling musical tribute to the 19th-century circus showman”.

THE OBSERVER

Book Tickets

30 Jan – 7 Feb

WINDSOR Theatre Royal Windsor

10 – 14 Feb

MANCHESTER Palace Theatre

24 – 28 Feb

YORK Grand Opera House

3 – 7 Mar

BRIGHTON Theatre Royal

17 – 21 Mar

CARDIFF Wales Millennium Centre

24 – 28 Mar

AYLESBURY Waterside Theatre

21 – 24 Apr

BIRMINGHAM Birmingham Hippodrome

Further 2026 tour dates and casting to be announced.