Theatre News

Barnum to receive first major London revival at Menier Chocolate Factory

Gordon Greenberg will direct Mark Bramble, Michael Stewart and Cy Coleman’s musical

The Menier Chocolate Factory
The Menier Chocolate Factory
© Flickr/Ewan Munro

Gordon Greenberg (Guys and Dolls) will direct the first major London revival of Barnum at the Menier Chocolate Factory from 5 December.

The musical tells the story of PT Barnum, also known as the Greatest Showman on Earth. The score includes "Come Follow The Band", "The Colours Of My Life" and "There Is A Sucker Born Ev'ry Minute".

Cy Coleman, Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble's Tony Award-winning musical opened on Broadway in 1980 starring Jim Dale and Glenn Close. It received its West End premiere the following year with Michael Crawford in the lead role. In 2013 it was revived at Chichester Festival Theatre starring Christopher Fitzgerald and Tamsin Carroll, and a UK touring production in 2014/15 starred Brian Conley and Linzi Hateley.

The Menier production will have choreography by Rebecca Howell, design by Paul Farnsworth and musical direction by Alex Parker.

Barnum runs at the Menier Chocolate Factory from 5 December to 3 March, with previews from 25 November. Tickets go on sale on 11 September.