We can't wait to see his circus skills! Comedian Marcus Brigstocke will play PT Barnum in Gordon Greenberg's revival of BARNUM this Christmas at the Menier Chocolate Factory, along with #StageFaves including Laura Pitt-Pulford, Celinde Schoenmaker, Harry Francis and many more...
The Menier Chocolate Factory today announce casting for their forthcoming production of Barnum, which runs from 25 November 2017 to 3 March 2018, with a press night on 5 December.
Marcus Brigstocke (PT Barnum) and Laura Pitt-Pulford (Charity Barnum) lead the company, with Tupele Dorgu (Joice Heth), Harry Francis (Tom Thumb) and Celinde Schoenmaker (Jenny Lind) and Danny Collins, Eamonn Cox, Rosie Fletcher, Ainsley Hall Ricketts, Courtney Hows, Bethany Huckle, Philip Marriott, Dominic Owen and Lucie-Mae Sumner. Full casting will be announced shortly.
Roll up, Roll up, for the Greatest Show on Earth coming to the Menier this Christmas! BARNUM tells the story of PT Barnum, the Greatest Showman on Earth, who combines razzle-dazzle with charm and brass to sell “humbug” to cheering crowds. A joyful and moving musical portrait of the nineteenth century’s greatest show-biz legend, Barnum is a colourful, dynamic spectacle full of circus, side-show legends and heart.
With music by Cy Coleman (Sweet Charity and The Life), lyrics by Michael Stewart (book writer of Hello Dolly! and Mack and Mabel; and co-adaptor of 42nd Street), and book by Mark Bramble (co-author of 42nd Street and director of the current revival), this Tony Award-winning musical premiered on Broadway in 1980 and had its West End premiere in 1981 at the London Palladium, where it ran for 655 performances. The last major UK production, directed by Timothy Sheader and produced by Cameron Mackintosh, opened in a special tent at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2013 before touring.
The new production is directed by Gordon Greenberg, with choreography by Rebecca Howell, design by Paul Farnsworth and musical direction by Alex Parker.
Marcus Brigstocke previously appeared in the Menier’s production of Fully Committed at the Edinburgh Festival. Also a comedian and writer, his other theatre work includes Oklahoma! (BBC Proms), Peter Pan (New Wimbledon Theatre), Spamalot (Harold Pinter Theatre and tour), The Railway Children (Waterloo), God Collar (Vaudeville Theatre) and Get a Life, Help Yourself, The Award Winning Show and The Museum of Everything(Edinburgh Festival). For television, The Joy of Techs, Sorry I’ve Got No Head, The 11 O’Clock Show, The Late Edition, Apocalypse Tube, King Stupid and The Savages; and for film, Never Land, Beyond the Sea, Love Actually, Piccadilly Jim and Telstar.
