Barnum – Liverpool Empire

Step right up, step right up and prepare to be entertained, because Barnum has arrived at the Liverpool Empire!

Based on the life of the legendary American showman P. T. Barnum, this bright, colourful musical takes audiences through the highs and lows of the man who famously built an entertainment empire on ambition, imagination and the promise of giving audiences “something they’ve never seen before”.

At the centre of this production is Matt Rawle who plays the one and only P. T. Barnum. Rawle brings an infectious charisma and an almost childlike enthusiasm for each of his next big ideas. He is the man with the gift of the gab.

There is plenty of humour in his portrayal, but contrastingly we get to see more of an edge to Barnum, a willingness to use others for his own gain, to manipulate the truth and he does all this with little regard for the consequences on those around him. One moment that had the audience holding their breath was the tightrope! Rawle takes to the stage to walk his tightrope with nothing but sheer skill.

Monique Young brings warmth and strength to Charity Barnum. She provides a fascinating contrast to her Barnum’s constant hunger for the next big thing, she is the grounding influence within the story who has a more realistic perspective life and tries to encourage Barnum to be accountable for his actions.

The circus performers (Niki Tsonopoulou, Andre Rodrigues, Emily Odunsi, Lennin Nelson-McClure, James Gill, and Gianpaolo Candelaria) really do bring this production to life and I couldn’t take my eyes off them. They brightened up every scene they entered. Sometimes, I did find myself more engrossed in their acrobatic skills than the main scene though. Their skill and talent absolutely needs a mention and I feel they need to be recognised individually for the impact of their artistry. All orchestrated by the powerful presence of ringmaster Eamonn Cox.

Directed by Jonathan O’Boyle and choreographed by Oti Mabuse, this is a production that clearly understands that Barnum should feel like stepping into a circus. Acrobatics, juggling, physical theatre and musical performance combine to create a constantly moving stage picture. The ensemble are particularly impressive, with performers frequently switching between musicians, actors and circus artists. A performance with over 150 instruments skilfully played live on stage.

There is something wonderfully theatrical about watching the staging (Lee Newby) be transformed before your eyes, with the performers themselves helping to create the world around them through acrobatics and moving set pieces. The set often transformed throughout scenes and musical pieces, keeping Barnum’s fast paced production moving forward.

The production has a wonderfully old-school theatrical quality to it while still feeling energetic and contemporary.

The musical score by Cy Coleman, with lyrics by Michael Stewart, provides plenty of memorable moments. Numbers including “Join the Circus,” “Colours of My Life” and “Come Follow the Band” give the production its unmistakable musical-theatre identity. The music is lively but also in Keeping with the setting and era of this musical. A toe tapping mix of melodies.

The actor-musicians are another major strength. Rather than simply sitting unseen in an orchestra pit, the musicians become part of the world of the show, helping create the atmosphere and momentum. Every performer on that stage contribute to making up Barnum’s travelling world of entertainment.

Visually, the combination of set, costumes, lighting and circus elements creates a constantly changing canvas, a bright spectacle which is perfectly suited to Barnum’s philosophy that there should always be something to look at. However, beneath all the razzle-dazzle lies a considerably more complicated story.

Despite the portrayal of a lovable and ambitious showman, the show also depicts how Barnum’s world was built on the blurred line between entertainment and exploitation. This gives the show an interesting modern relevancy.

There are moments when the sheer amount of spectacle threatens to overwhelm the more intimate aspects of the story, but overall, it’s a great parade of a show. Barnum is a colourful celebration of the art of putting on a show.

A piece of theatre with plenty of spectacle, energy and old-fashioned showbiz magic, so, ‘Come follow the band’ — because this is one circus worth joining.

Reviewer: Steph Wiswall

Reviewed: 15th September 2026

North West End UK Rating: