Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular has taken London by storm, offering audiences a breathtaking blend of circus artistry and musical theatre – all combined with the incredible songs from hit film The Greatest Showman.
At the heart of this production is a team of visionary creatives whose collective talents have brought this circus spectacular to life, packing in audiences at the Empress Museum in London’s Earl’s Court. From the main creative vision for the show, Simon Hammerstein, grandson of legendary Broadway composer Oscar Hammerstein II; to in-demand theatre, TV and concert choreographer Jerry Reeve, and the award-winning songwriters Pasek and Paul.
So let’s meet the masterminds behind the magic of Come Alive! in London.
Simon Hammerstein – Creative Director
A bold visionary with a flair for immersive entertainment, Simon Hammerstein brings decades of creative experience to Come Alive! Best known as the founder of the avant-garde New York nightlife experience The Box, Hammerstein has built a reputation for fusing the risqué with the refined. His work often pushes boundaries, and in Come Alive! he reimagines the circus experience through a theatrical lens — part West End spectacle, part sensory dreamscape. With his deep roots in theatre and an eye for reinvention, Hammerstein guides the show’s bold aesthetic and emotional resonance. You can read an interview with Simon Hammerstein here.
Matthew Brind – Music Producer
Matthew Brind brings a wealth of experience and musical theatre knowledge to Come Alive! as the show’s Music Producer. A long-time collaborator on West End and screen musicals, and a BAFTA winner and Olivier Award nominee, Brind is known for his work on Legally Blonde, Just For One Day, and the hit film Paddington 2. He is also working on the brand new West End version of Paddington, with Paddington The Musical coming to London soon. For this production, he has reimagined Pasek and Paul’s iconic songs with new arrangements that heighten the drama and drive of the live performance, blending orchestral power with pop polish. Brind’s musical direction ensures that every note hits with emotional precision, turning beloved hits like “Come Alive” and “This Is Me” into thrilling theatrical moments. His work underpins the show’s heart and energy. More about Matthew.
Jerry Reeve – Choreographer
Jerry Reeve’s choreography pulses through Come Alive! with an electrifying blend of dance style. A creative force behind global tours of pop superstars, music videos for Taylor Swift, Robbie Williams, Olly Murs and more, and as the choreographer for The Voice in the UK, Reeve brings pop concert polish to the stage while maintaining theatrical integrity. His choreography doesn’t just fill the space — it tells stories, drives emotion, and amplifies the high-octane energy of the acrobatic ensemble. Reeve’s ability to merge narrative with movement makes him central to the show’s kinetic power. More about Jerry.
Lukas McFarlane – Choreographer
Renowned for his emotionally charged movement and storytelling through dance, Canadian Lukas McFarlane brings a raw, expressive energy to Come Alive! As co-choreographer alongside Jerry Reeve, McFarlane fuses contemporary technique with theatrical flair, crafting choreography that pulses with heart and intensity. Lukas has appeared and choreographed on TV shows So You Think You Can Dance, Strictly Come Dancing, The Voice UK and The X Factor. More about Lukas.
Tilde Björfors and Mattias Andersson – Circus Choreography & Casting
Together, Tilde Björfors and Mattias Andersson bring a visionary approach to the circus elements of Come Alive!, blending breathtaking physicality with rich emotional storytelling. Björfors, founder of Sweden’s Cirkus Cirkör, is celebrated for elevating circus arts into deeply theatrical experiences, while Andersson brings decades of experience as a director, circus artist, and casting specialist. Their superb choreography in Come Alive! is spectacular, using aerial work, balancing acts, and ensemble movement to serve the story and entertain the audience.
Ruby Law – Set Designer
Ruby Law’s striking set design for Come Alive! reimagines the grandeur of the traditional circus through a modern theatrical lens. With a background in immersive theatre and large-scale live events, Law has crafted theatre sets at the Royal Albert Hall, Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Walt Disney Concert Hall, O2 Arena, King’s Head Theatre, and the National Museum of Qatar, and worked with designers including Es Devlin. For Come Alive! she creates a dynamic environment that plays with height, depth, and texture — from soaring aerial rigs to richly detailed circus motifs, transforming the Empress Theatre into a living, breathing big top! More about Ruby.
Susan Kulkarni and Martina Trottmann – Costume Designers
This creative duo brings theatrical richness and circus splendour to Come Alive! through costume design that is both visually spectacular and deeply character-driven. Come Alive’s costume designer Susan Kulkarni is known for her work on West End musical The Prince of Egypt and large-scale immersive experiences, and on Come Alive! she blends historical details that evoke 19th-century circus glamour with contemporary showbiz dazzle. Co-Costume Designer Martina Trottmann is celebrated for her detailed tailoring and inventive design approach, to withstand the demands of dance, acrobatics, and musical theatre.
Pasek and Paul – Songwriters
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s award-winning music is the beating heart of Come Alive!, adapted from their unforgettable score for blockbuster movie The Greatest Showman. Their signature blend of soaring anthems and intimate ballads captures themes of belonging, bravery, and transformation — a perfect match for this theatrical retelling. With hits like “This Is Me,” “A Million Dreams,” and “Come Alive” forming the backbone of the show, their music continues to uplift and inspire. Pasek and Paul have also written songs for current Disney movie Snow White, hit Broadway and West End hit Dear Evan Hansen, and the songs for Oscar-winning movie La La Land. More about Pasek and Paul.
The full creative team of Come Alive!
The full creative team for Come Alive! includes: Original story by Jenny Bicks, Songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and Creative Direction by Simon Hammerstein.
Also Music Producer, Matthew Brind; Choreographer, Jerry Reeve & Lukas McFarlane; Circus Choreography & Casting, Tilde Björfors and Mattias Andersson; Lighting Designer, Adam Bassett for WBD; Sound Designer, Gareth Tucker for Autograph; Set Designer, Ruby Law; Costume Designer, Susan Kulkarni; Co-Costume Designer, Martina Trottmann; Performance Director, Bryn Harris; Circus Consultant, Jack Marsh; Specialty Casting Consultant, Mica Kitto; Creative Writer, Bells Prendergast; Co-music Supervisor, Greg Arrowsmith; Music Producer & Mixer, Andrei Basirov; Associate Orchestrator, Jack Hopkins; Associate Lighting Designer, Alex Forey; Associate Choreographer, Johnathan Bishop; Associate Sound Designer, Liam McDermott; Art Director, Mika Handley; Casting Director, Pearson Casting; Creative Producer, Andrea Moccia.
The Music Producer is Matthew Brind (Paddington 2, Just For One Day, Legally Blonde); choreographers Jerry Reeve (Taylor Swift, The Queen’s Jubilee Platinum Party At The Palace) and Lukas McFarlane (Strictly Come Dancing, So You Think You Can Dance?, The X Factor); Emmy Award-nominated Lighting Designer Adam Bassett for Woodroffe Bassett Design (The Rolling Stones – ‘SIXTY’ Tour 2022, London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony, Adele – Live); Set Designer Ruby Law (Billie Eilish, Jorja Smith); Costume Designer Susan Kulkarni (The Peripheral, Silence, Dirty Dancing – Secret Cinema); Art Director Mika Handley (Aladdin, Guardians of the Galaxy – Secret Cinema); and Casting by Pearson Casting (Starlight Express, Six).
Produced by Outside The Box Amusements and TSG Entertainment
Read more
Also Meet the Singers of Come Alive!
Book tickets to Come Alive!
Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular is now playing at London’s Empress Museum, booking to September 2025.
Book tickets to Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular at the Empress Museum London
Empress Museum, London
Related News
8 kid-friendly theatre shows to see in London this autumn(that the whole family will enjoy)
Last minute theatre in London: 11 must-see shows to book right now
New cast confirmed as Come Alive! enters its third year in London and extends into 2027
The ultimate guide to Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular in London
Latest News
Everything you need to know about The Traitors: Acts of Betrayal in London
Nina Raine’s sweeping new adaptation of Middlemarch arrives at the RSC: See brand-new images from the production
What to expect from Pride the Musical ahead of highly anticipated transfer to the Bridge Theatre
