Barnum Archives - North West End UK

4Jun

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Barnum – Hull New Theatre

Never was a standing ovation so well deserved as that given to the cast of Barnum, The Circus Musical after they thrilled a full-ish Hull New Theatre on Tuesday evening. For over two hours we were entertained with sensational singing, dancing, acrobatics, magic tricks, music from multi-talented musicians - and Jumbo, the elephant circus owner Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891) once advertised as “the largest in the world” in order to draw in the crowds. It was later discovered he had enhanced Jumbo’s skeleton after the animal had died, by packing it with blocks of wood and positioning its tusks to make it look extra massive. However, the huge elephant puppet on stage on the night was one of the best I have seen in any show, so hats off to its designers, Mervyn Millar and Tracy Wall...

Barnum – Birmingham Hippodrome

Some musicals are classics and last forever, strong enough to weather changes in socials mood and time and attitudes. Other pieces have their place, their period and should, thereafter, be quietly archived as a curiosity of its time. Barnum falls into the latter category. Not for any fault in the music which continues to be vibrant, lively and riddled with humble ear-worms, but because we are asked to support, empathise and care for a character whose real-life exploits are clearly questionable by today’s standard. In the hands of a beloved TV entertainer forty years ago this would have passed without remark but today it’s somewhat toe-curling. A tweak of a line here or there would’ve avoided that. Barnum exploded on Broadway in the eighties with the multi-talented Jim Dale in the title ...

Barnum – Palace Theatre

P.T. Barnum was one of the most fascinating and controversial showmen in history; a man who built an empire on spectacle, ambition, and an unshakable belief in the power of entertainment. Barnum brings his extraordinary life vividly to the stage, charting his rise from humble beginnings to global fame, while exploring the personal sacrifices made along the way. It’s a rousing, uplifting musical that celebrates individuality, resilience, and the thrill of chasing impossible dreams. Directed by Jonathan O’Boyle, this production moves at a thrilling pace from start to finish, rarely giving the audience a moment to breathe. It’s slick, polished, and bursting with theatrical flair, managing to balance emotional storytelling with jaw-dropping spectacle. From intimate character moments to full...