Simon Bailey and Aaliya Mai on bringing 'The Greatest Showman' music to the stage in 'Come Alive!'

Simon Bailey and Aaliya Mai are the leading duo behind Simon Hammerstein’s new take on The Greatest Showman — a circus-led feast for the eyes.

There’s already a Disney stage show in the works, but The Greatest Showman has landed in London early with this “Circus Spectacular”. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s acclaimed choruses have been put inside a new story conceived by Simon Hammerstein, with acrobatics galore. Set inside an expansive building in Earl’s Court, now called the Empress Museum, there’s lots to see and do.

There are fortune tellers, food stalls and endless selfie opportunities to delight fans – even before they enter the 700-seat big top for the actual performance. Leading the show is musical theatre veteran Simon Bailey, of Moulin Rouge!, We Will Rock You and Heathers fame, alongside newcomer Aaliya Mai, who only recently graduated from the London School of Musical Theatre.

When did you first encounter The Greatest Showman?
Simon Bailey: I saw it a bit later, even though I loved everything about it. I loved the writers, I loved all the actors in it, and I loved the idea. It is great when film musicals really start to break down boundaries. It had such a universally positive reaction.

Aaliya Mai: I worked with kids before, so I remember hearing the music everywhere. It is a great soundtrack, and I always thought that, but I didn’t actually watch the film until just before starting this job.

What makes your show different to the film?
Bailey: The obvious difference is that it is a different story. The film is focused on P.T. Barnum, his trials and tribulations and how his circus started. Whereas what we’ve tried to do is marry different art forms. We call it a circus spectacular because there are genuinely some of the best circus performers in the world performing in this show. But there are also elements of musical theatre, of a concert, of dance shows, too.

Do you feel pressure to get the music right as it is such a popular score?
Mai: The music is so loved that I don’t think it matters how you present it to people. They will love it! We have people singing along every night. I don’t think I feel pressure, it is just exciting.

Bailey: For me, it is a bit of both. I’m excited, because we’re performing the songs in a totally new way in the show. But you also want to make sure you are remaining faithful to the original music for the fans.

Who are your characters?
Mai: My character is called Max, who is a lovely part to play. She starts off as a bit of an underdog. She is championing her boyfriend’s dreams of being part of the circus a little bit more than her own. Soon, she starts discovering her own potential. She has a great story because over the course of the show, she comes into the circus world and is starting to find her feet. It reflects what I’m going through too; this is my first role after drama school, I’m coming into the industry, so I can bring a bit of my real life to the role.

Bailey: I’m the Showman, which is exactly what it says on the tin. He is a showman! The character is completely interactive and loves to perform. His job is to get people involved and that’s something we wanted to set up from the very beginning. We want the audience to be with us every step of the way. That is very much where my energy lies.

What is it like watching the circus?
Mai: I am constantly in awe. You look up and there is someone hanging upside down, another person is whizzing around on something, someone has their legs over their head. So yeah, it is great.

Bailey: The circus performers are from a different dimension. They have no fear. Their brains are wired completely differently. In rehearsals they kept asking if they could add fire to everything... if they’re not on fire, they’re not interested!

The venue is called Empress Museum and has been designed as a Greatest Showman immersive experience. What is it like to perform in?
Bailey: It is amazing because there is a world before the world of the show. I think there are other shows that have started to do this, but this is not just a couple of people moving around, this is a genuine world, which is tangible. You can have your fortune read, you can go and watch close up magic, there is a cabaret performance. Hopefully you feel transported, even before you sit down.

Mai: It is a beautiful space. The pre-show world is incredible. The set is dressed wonderfully. We’ve got wagons and dressing tables and all kinds of circus equipment laid out for the audience to interact with. Then, the big top is in the round, which means the audience gets a great view from wherever they’re sat.

What is your favourite song and why?
Mai: We keep saying the same one! Mine is 100% “The Other Side”. It is super gritty, we get to do it together, and it’s awesome.

Bailey: “The Other Side”. It is the only time we sing together and it is one of the only times our characters actually meet. So, it is a pretty exciting point in the show.

Book Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Come Alive! (Photos courtesy of production)