Bill Kenwright Ltd presents
the Watermill Theatre Production
Bill Kenwright Ltd presents
the Watermill Theatre Production
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 Dreamcoat, Wicked, 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.
LEE MEAD STARS AS P.T. BARNUM
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.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“The dazzling all-singing, all-juggling musical tribute to the 19th-century circus showman”.
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.