'The Greatest Showman' announces world premiere in the UK

The musical, based on the 2017 film, will open at Bristol Hippodrome next year. Casey Nicholaw, whose production of Disney's Hercules opens at Theatre Royal Drury Lane this summer, directs.

The new stage adaptation of The Greatest Showman will premiere in Bristol in spring 2026, with a casting search underway for the show's company.

Opening at Bristol Hippodrome, The Greatest Showman on stage will feature the music of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, including “The Greatest Show,” “A Million Dreams,” “Come Alive,” “Rewrite the Stars”, and "This is Me". New songs have also been written for the musical.

The creative team includes book by Tim Federle (Ferdinand, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Tuck Everlasting), direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Aladdin, Mean Girls, Disney’s Hercules).

Based on the 2017 film, the musical is inspired by the story of showman and circus owner P. T. Barnum.

Pasek and Paul said, “We are continuously surprised and moved by how much the songs from The Greatest Showman seem to have resonated around the world, and to now have the opportunity to bring them to the stage is truly thrilling.”

Check back for more information on The Greatest Showman.

Photo credit: The Greatest Showman. (Courtesy of 20th Century Studios)