It was announced at the D23 Disney fan convention over the weekend that The Greatest Showman has officially found a home in the West End and is planning a Spring It was announced at the D23 Disney fan convention over the weekend that The Greatest Showman has officially found a home in the West End and is planning a Spring 2027 premiere. The musical will open at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, led by Oliver Tompsett and Samantha Barks as P.T. and Charity Barnum, following a sold-out run at Bristol Hippodrome.
The new stage adaptation of The Greatest Showman, based on the 2017 hit film, will premiere at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in Spring 2027, it’s been confirmed. The musical enjoyed a sell-out run at the Bristol Hippodrome earlier this year, starring Oliver Tompsett as P.T. Barnum and Samantha Barks as Charity Barnum, who are confirmed to be returning for the West End premiere.
Anne Quart and Andrew Flatt for Disney Theatrical Group said over the weekend, “It’s rare for a new film musical to capture the world’s imagination in the way The Greatest Showman has – both for its story and record-breaking soundtrack.
The piece is fearless in its emotion: open-hearted, exuberant, and unapologetically joyous, celebrating those considered outsiders and dreamers. While its storytelling draws on classic traditions, its score is unmistakably of today — bold, infectious songs that feel they were always destined for the stage.”
They went on to confirm that the Benj Pasek and Justin Paul return to the production with new numbers written for the musical alongside their award-winning music from the film, and finished by saying that Disney is “thrilled to begin this next chapter in our long association with Theatre Royal Drury Lane – this feels like a very special homecoming.”
The cast of The Greatest Showman so far
Alongside the news of The Greatest Showman’s arrival in the West End, some of the initial cast was announced, all of whom appeared in the Bristol run of the musical.
The cast for the West End will include:
- Oliver Tompsett (& Juliet) as P.T. Barnum, played by Hugh Jackman in the movie
- Samantha Barks (Frozen) as Charity Barnum, originally played by Michelle Williams.
- Ben Joyce (Back to the Future) as Phillip Carlyle, made famous by Zac Efron in the film
- Vajèn van den Bosch (Wicked) as Jenny Lind, played in the film by Rebecca Ferguson
- Malinda Parris (Disney’s Hercules) as Lettie Lutz, in the role originated by Keala Settle in the film.
Further casting will be announced at a later date.
The musical features a book by Tim Federle, alongside the Grammy-winning, Academy Award-nominated songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, including ‘The Greatest Show,’ ‘Come Alive,’ ‘Rewrite the Stars,’ ‘Never Enough’ and the Golden Globe-winning ‘This Is Me,’ alongside several songs written specifically for the stage.
Two-time Tony® Award-winning Casey Nicholaw – who also helmed Disney’s Hercules, currently playing at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane until 5 September – will direct.
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