Barnum the Circus Musical, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff – review

Thanks to Wales Millennium Centre for providing us with complimentary press tickets to review Barnum

Long before The Greatest Showman, Barnum the Circus Musical brought the life of American showman Phineas Taylor Barnum, to the stage. First opening on Broadway in 1980 and the West End the following year (with Michael Crawford in the title role, no less), it’s now back touring UK theatres for the first time in more than 10 years, arriving at Wales Millennium Centre this week.

It looks spectacular, with striped red and white circus-style curtains and a luxurious red and gold theatre stage illuminated by dozens of spotlights. The energy bounces off the stage as the 20-strong ensemble cast not only sing and dance but play more than 150 different instruments and perform all kinds of circus feats, from trapeze and aerial stunts to contortions and even fire breathing. It’s wonderfully chaotic, with so much going on you’re not always sure where to look as you don’t want to miss anything. 

Lee Mead -– who rose to fame when he won TV series Any Dream Will Do – takes on the lead role of PT Barnum in a part that requires real showmanship skills, as well as all the singing and dancing, and Lee instantly connects with his audience. He’s confident, charismatic, charming and cynical, as we get a glimpse of the man behind the persona. Opposite him is Monique Young as his wife Charity, warm, grounded but not afraid to do things her way. Penny Ashmore shines as the ‘Swedish Nightingale’, opera singer Jenny Lind. Her solo ballad Love Makes Such Fools of Us All, in which she also plays the harp, is poignantly beautiful.

Cy Coleman’s original score fuses musical theatre razzmatazz with circus style sounds and a few jazzy undertones for a fun and lively soundtrack that evokes the stage shows of old, while bold choreography from Oti Mabuse of Strictly Come Dancing fame fills the stage. Songs such as One Brick at a Time and Join the Circus are upbeat and high energy, all brass instruments reverberating around the theatre and woodwind instruments chirping away – you can’t help but tap your feet in time.

Act two opener Come Follow The Band is brilliantly executed, with the cast dressed in blue and white marching band style outfits, bass drums pounding, symbols crashing and all manner of other instruments creating a real cacophony of sound. An absolute highlight for me. 

If you’ve watched The Greatest Showman, the first act will feel familiar – same story, told very differently – but the second act takes a bit of a departure focussing on Barnum’s foray into politics, betrayal, and a devastating tragedy. It would have been great to have also seen this emotional depth in the first act as the snippets of storyline aren’t always fully explored. 

That said, this new production of Barnum is visually impressive, upbeat and energetic, with circus acts that will leave you open mouthed and holding your breath in anticipation, and vibrant musical numbers that will have you tapping along.

Barnum is at Wales Millennium Centre until Saturday 21 March. Tickets, from £18, are still available although some performances have limited availability. The show is two hours and 10 minutes including an interval Age guidance is 8+ with no admission to under 2s. See the Wales Millennium Centre for more information. wmc.org.uk 

Also coming up at Wales Millennium Centre:

Priscilla: Queen of the Dessert 20-25 April

The Spy Who Came in From The Cold, 28 April-2 May

Bluey’s Big Play, 7-10 May

Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, 14-17 May

The Choir of man, 19-23 May

Sunny Afternoon, The Kinks Musical, 26-30 May