The Greatest Showman Stage Musical Premieres in Bristol with High-Flying Spectacle
Roll up, roll up! The sleeper hit film The Greatest Showman has been transformed into a Disney stage musical, premiering in Bristol with a sold-out eight-week run. This high-flying, hammer-juggling, banger-filled spectacular brings the beloved soundtrack to life, adding new songs by original composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Directed by Tony winner Casey Nicholaw, known for The Book of Mormon, the production is treated as a tryout, with its future beyond Bristol unconfirmed but hinted at by the upcoming vacancy at London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane after Hercules closes.
Behind the Scenes at Bristol Hippodrome
At Bristol's Frank Matcham-designed Hippodrome, major structural alterations have been made to accommodate the ambitious show. The backstage warren teems with activity, from rails of waistcoats to power drills and a snack table fit for a children's party. Oliver Tompsett stars as PT Barnum, taking on the sanitized version of the real-life entrepreneur, while Samantha Barks plays his wife, Charity. Barks, best known as Elsa in the West End's Frozen, brings her experience from a solo cathedral tour and a deep family connection to the film. Tompsett relates to the film's portrayal of family, having grown up in a theatre-loving household, and highlights the sense of community in both circus and musical theatre.
Navigating the Legacy of PT Barnum
The elephant in the room is the real PT Barnum, whose exploitative history includes exhibiting disabled individuals like Joice Heth and recruiting child performer Charles Stratton. The film omitted Heth and altered Stratton's age, and the stage musical follows a similar fable-based approach. Executive producer Anne Quart acknowledges the historical facts but emphasizes that the show is a story of redemption, not historical accuracy. The production aims to celebrate circus and theatre while addressing Barnum's poor choices, with Quart noting that his redemption is hard-won and not inevitable. However, critics argue that turning exploitation into an empowering musical risks glossing over darker truths.
Inclusivity and Artistic Choices
The stage musical features an ensemble cast, including performers like Vajèn van den Bosch and Lorna Courtney, but has chosen not to cast a performer with dwarfism for the role of Stratton. Quart explains that the show represents otherness in various ways and aims to convey that uniqueness is a strength. The production also excludes live animals, using CGI and focusing on human tricks, such as aerial sequences for songs like Rewrite the Stars. Nicholaw's choreography is described as athletic and joyful, with the band positioned in a "sky pit" above the stage, utilizing advanced digital technology.
Audience Engagement and Future Prospects
With audiences already familiar with the soundtrack from sing-along screenings, the team anticipates enthusiastic responses but hopes theatregoers will refrain from joining in during performances. Quart expresses curiosity about future Disney theatre productions potentially venturing into original stories beyond adaptations. As the show runs in Bristol until May 10, it represents a significant step in bringing the film's magic to the stage, balancing spectacle with the complex legacy of its central figure.
