Samantha Barks, Oliver Tompsett, Ben Joyce, Lorna Courtney, Vajèn van den Bosch & Malinda Parris to star in The Greatest Showman
Disney Theatrical Group’s new stage musical based on the hit movie The Greatest Showman has confirmed UK casting and dates.
West End stars Samantha Barks, Oliver Tompsett and Ben Joyce will lead the company, alongside Lorna Courtney, Vajèn van den Bosch and Malinda Parris.
It was announced in March that the world premiere of The Greatest Showman The Musical will take place at the UK’s Bristol Hippodrome in spring 2026, ahead of planned runs in London’s West End and on Broadway.
Dates for the Bristol Hippodrome have also now been confirmed, with The Greatest Showman running from 15 March to 10 May 2026.
Greatest Showman casting
Samantha Barks, best known for her acclaimed performance as Elsa in Frozen at Theatre Royal Drury Lane and for playing Éponine in Les Misérables on stage and screen, will star as Charity Barnum, played by Michelle Williams in the film.
Joining her is Oliver Tompsett, whose recent credits include Shakespeare in & Juliet, Charlie Price in Kinky Boots, and Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman. He will take on the role of P.T. Barnum, played by Hugh Jackman in the movie.
Ben Joyce — most recently seen as Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Marty McFly in Back to the Future and Beau in Shucked – will play the role made famous by Zac Efron in the film, Phillip Carlyle.
Broadway star Lorna Courtney (Heathers, & Juliet) plays Anne Wheeler in the show, a part played in the film by Zendaya.
Vajèn van den Bosch will play Jenny Lind. Vajèn’s credits include Frozen, Wicked and Les Misérables. The role of Jenny Lind was played in the film by Rebecca Ferguson.
London-based musical theatre actress Malinda Parris (The Little Big Things) who is currently in Disney’s Hercules in London, will star as Lettie Lutz, played in the movie by Keala Settle.
The Greatest Showman – Casting – Top L-R Samantha Barks, Oliver Tompsett, Ben Joyce, Bottom L-R Lorna Courtney, Vajen
The cast also features Mia Raggio, Angelica Pearl Scott and Maya Sewrey sharing the role of Caroline/Young Charity; Harly Gill, Ellie McArdle and Eleanor Sebastian as Helen; and Max Bispham, Joel Tennant and Clark Young as Young Barnum.
Josh St. Clair (50 First Dates: The Musical) will play Alternate P.T. Barnum, with Katie Tonkinson (Bat Out of Hell) as Standby Anne Wheeler.
The Ensemble of The Greatest Showman includes Derek Aidoo, Cornelius Atkinson, Matt Bateman, Nikki Bentley, Courtenay Brady, Thea Bunting, Amara Campbell, Jonathan Cordin, Angus Good, Ryesha Higgs, Barney Hudson, Annie Knight, Nathan Louis-Fernand, Liam Marcellino, Ayesha Maynard, Suzie McAdam, Emily McCarthy, Will Meager, Michael Patterson, Stuart Matthew Price, Emile Ruddock, Annie Southall, and Zoe Schubert.
Rehearsals begin in December 2025 ahead of the Bristol engagement.
Disney already put out a UK and Ireland casting call in March this year to find aspiring performers for the show, with open auditions taking place in March and April 2025.
The Greatest Showman – Samantha Barks & Oliver Tompsett. Photo Sebastian Nevols (c) 20th Century Studios
From screen to stage
Based on the 2017 20th Century Fox movie directed by Michael Gracey and starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson and Zendaya, the stage adaptation features the Oscar-nominated songs of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, including The Greatest Show, A Million Dreams, Come Alive, Rewrite the Stars and This Is Me.
Pasek and Paul have written five new songs for the production, including the new number Show Goes On. The musical’s book is by Emmy nominee Tim Federle (Ferdinand, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Tuck Everlasting).
The creators of The Greatest Showman
The stage production is directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, whose credits include Disney’s Hercules at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and the smash hits musicals Aladdin and The Book of Mormon.
The wider creative team includes Alex Lacamoire (Music Supervision, Incidental & Dance Music Arrangements and Orchestrations), David Korins (Scenic Design), Gregg Barnes and Sky Switser (Costume Design); Natasha Katz (Lighting Design); Peter Hylenski (Sound Design), George Reeve (Video Design), Lorenzo Pisoni (Circus Creation and Design), Josh Marquette (Hair and Wig Design), Milagros Medina-Cerdeira (Make Up Design), Jeremy Chernick (Special Effects Design), Skylar Fox (Illusions), Natalie Gallacher CDG for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting (Casting Director) and Keston & Keston (Children’s General Manager and Casting Director). Justin Paul is also providing Vocal and Incidental Music Arrangements.
Disney Theatrical & production background
The IP for The Greatest Showman became part of Disney’s library following its 2019 acquisition of 21st Century Fox. The show joins Disney Theatrical Group’s global slate of hits including The Lion King, Aladdin, Frozen and Hercules. The show is also produced with The Seelig Group, a producer of the original film.
A London premiere is widely expected, with Theatre Royal Drury Lane still rumoured as the target West End venue.
Currently playing in London is The Greatest Showman spin-off Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular, which is currently booking at the Empress Museum in London until September 2026.
What They Said
Director Casey Nicholaw said in a statement: “It’s an absolute joy to finally share our incredible cast with the world – led by the brilliant Oliver Tompsett and Samantha Barks. After an exhaustive search we have gathered a group of artists whose talent will bring to life this fantastic story – with a theatrical new book by Tim Federle and the beloved score created by Pasek and Paul. Together with a world class creative team, we are so excited to bring this story to life for the first time on stage.”
Actor Oliver Tompsett said: “Roles like this don’t come along very often, so it’s an absolute privilege to be taking on this incredible character in the original company of The Greatest Showman. I’m so very fortunate to be surrounded by the most brilliant cast – Sam, Ben, Lorna, Malinda, and Vajèn – and can’t wait to begin the creative process with Casey and the team in the rehearsal room.”
Actor Samantha Barks said: “I’m thrilled to be rejoining the Disney family to play Charity Barnum. There is something utterly magical about The Greatest Showman – the songs have become instant classics – and I’m so excited to partner with Olly to bring this incredible couple and their enduring love to life on stage.”
Explore more West End shows currently booking in London and plan your theatre visit.
Booking tickets
Tickets for Bristol go on sale on 6 November 2025 at 10am.
The Greatest Showman The Musical is playing at the Bristol Hippodrome from 15 March to 10 May 2026.
More about tickets to The Greatest Showman The Musical
Also Booking
Book tickets to Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular in London
Book tickets to Disney’s The Lion King in London
Book tickets to Disney’s Hercules in London
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