REVIEW: Barnum at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking

Originally performed on Broadway in 1980 with Jim Dale and Glenn Close, the current touring production of Barnum comes from Cameron Mackintosh and the Chichester Festival Theatre. This production was revived in 2013 and is now touring through till August 2015. 

Barnum is a bizzare musical, I couldn’t really tell what was going on through out the story as nothing seemed to have any flow to it. Things were popping up here, there and everywhere so I lost track of what was going on. And the wife's death scene? Very confusing! The ensemble numbers, however, were stunning, especially for a touring production! I’m very impressed with how they pulled off this scale production in this kind of theatre, I’ve never seen musical numbers like it on the touring circuit. 

Full cast announced for UK tour of BARNUM

The national tour of Cameron Mackintosh and Chichester Festival Theatre's production of Barnum will open at Leicester Curve on 5 September 2014. The tour will star Brian Conley in the title role, alongside Linzi Hateley as Chairy.

Cy Coleman's 1980 Broadway musical follows the life of Phineas T Barnum, America's "Greatest Showman". The score includes "Come Follow The Band", "The Colours Of My Life" and "There Is A Sucker Born Ev'ry Minute".

The revival, directed by Open Air Theatre's Timothy Sheader, was first seen at Chichester Festival Theatre's temporary Theatre in the Park in July last year.