A history of circus musicals in London

From Barnum and Matilda to the thrilling new production Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular, London has a long history of circus musicals.

Roll up, roll up! London theatre has often ventured into the Big Top, bringing us exciting circus spectacles like gravity-defying acrobats, hilarious clowns, jugglers, fire-breathers, stilt-walkers, and much more. It’s a natural arena for musicals, as there is plenty of inherent drama, colourful characters, and thrilling live entertainment.

One of the biggest movie-musical hits of recent times is The Greatest Showman, and we’re now eagerly anticipating the West End stage version of the film. That should be heading our way soon, and London is already home to the high-flying Come Alive!, a must for Greatest Showman fans.

Ahead of your trip, check out our rundown of past and present London musicals that feature the circus.

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

1896: The Circus Girl

This early example of the genre is a sprightly musical comedy created by James T. Tanner, Walter Apllant, Harry Greenbank, Adrian Ross, Ivan Caryll, and Lionel Monckton. It premiered at the Gaiety Theatre in the West End, and went on to run in New York.

The original production starred the husband-and-wife duo of Seymour Hicks and Ellaline Terriss, and the story follows a group of English tourists who get involved with a circus in Paris. The circus adventures involve walking the slackwire, bareback horse-riding, and being shot out of a cannon.

1916: Houp La!

Another successful Edwardian musical comedy, mixing romance, jokes and circus thrills, Houp La! was created by the team of Nat D Ayer, Howard Talbot, Percy Greenbank, Hugh E Wright, and Fred Thompson. It was the first ever production at new West End venue the St Martin’s Theatre (now home to The Mousetrap).

Gertie Millar, George Graves, Ida Adams, and Nat Ayer featured in that original company, playing a knockabout story about Marmaduke Bunn, owner of a financially struggling circus who bets on the horses, and a love triangle between two of the circus’s leading acts and a handsome polo player.

1926: Sunny

Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II and Otto Harbach brought us this witty musical, which uses a circus-based romance to talk about class barriers. It transferred to London’s Hippodrome following a Broadway run, and was later made into a film.

Binnie Hale and Jack Buchanan led the London production, playing the titular character, a star of the circus, and her love interest, a wealthy playboy with a snobbish family. It’s notable as the first musical collaboration between Kern and Hammerstein (later co-creators of Show Boat).

1963: Carnival!

Michael Stewart and Bob Merrill adapted the 1953 film Lili (already a dramatisation of Paul Gallico’s short story) into a musical. Directed by Gower Champion, aided by magical advisor Roy Benson, it was a big hit on Broadway, but sadly had a short run at the West End’s Lyric Theatre.

James Mitchell reprised his starring role in London, alongside Sally Logan, Michael Maurel, Shirley Sands, Bob Harris, and Francis de Wolff. The story sees the naïve orphan Lili join the carnival, try to perform with a magician, and find her place in a puppet act – only to become the target of obsession.

1973: Pippin

Stephen Schwartz and Roger O Hirson’s ground-breaking musical, with key adds from original director Bob Fosse, introduces the tale of a young prince who is searching for fulfilment via a travelling troupe – and, as staged by Fosse, that troupe (who have “Magic To Do”!) hail from the circus.

Following its acclaimed, Tony-winning Broadway premiere, Pippin transferred to Her Majesty’s Theatre in the West End, starring Northern Calloway and Paul Jones, and retaining its circus set-pieces. It returned to London in 2011, running at the Menier Chocolate Factory with a cast including Ian Kelsey, Matt Rawle, and Frances Ruffelle.

1981: Barnum

PT Barnum is no stranger to musical theatre. His fascinating story is brought to life in Cy Coleman, Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble’s spectacular show, which works in numerous elements of the circus – including clowns, jugglers, and, most memorably, a tightrope walk.

Michael Crawford won an Olivier for playing Barnum in the epic London Palladium production; Deborah Grant played Barnum’s wife Charity and Sarah Payne was opera singer Jenny Lind. There have been several revivals since, including a Menier run in 2017 with Marcus Brigstocke, Laura Pitt-Pulford, and Celinde Schoenmaker.

2011: Matilda The Musical

There was already magic baked into Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s book about a clever little girl who uses her big brain, her imagination, and her telekinetic powers to outsmart first her horrible family and then her bullying headmistress, Miss Trunchbull.

The smash-hit stage musical adaptation by Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly, which has been a staple of the West End since 2011, goes a step further by adding a circus-set subplot. It begins as a story about an acrobat couple that Matilda tells librarian Mrs Phelps, and later becomes an incredible part of one key character’s backstory.

Book Matilda The Musical tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

2024: Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular

Barnum’s story was told on the big screen in the 2017 movie-musical starring Hugh Jackman, Zendaya, Zac Efron, and Keala Settle, with songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. A stage musical adaptation of this mega-hit is in the works, so watch this space for news of a West End production!

You can also get your Greatest Showman fill in London right now with Come Alive!, which immerses you in the world of the circus. Featuring all your favourite songs, such as “This Is Me” and “The Greatest Show”, it tells a new story about a budding circus star, alongside jaw-dropping acrobatic stunts, fire-breathing, and more.

Book Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular tickets on London Theatre.

Photo credit: Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular (Photos by Luke Dyson)