Disney’s ‘The Greatest Showman’ Musical Sets Spring 2027 West End Opening, Principal Cast
Disney’s stage adaptation of The Greatest Showman will open at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane in spring 2027, with its principal cast now announced. The production extends Disney Theatrical Group’s development of the hit 2017 film and follows a sold-out pre-West End run in Bristol, although no Broadway plans have been confirmed.
Oliver Tompsett will play P.T. Barnum and Samantha Barks will play Charity Barnum, alongside Ben Joyce as Phillip Carlyle, Vajèn van den Bosch as Jenny Lind and Malinda Parris as Lettie Lutz. The musical features the film’s songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, including “This Is Me” and “Rewrite the Stars”, plus new material; Tim Federle has written the book and Casey Nicholaw will direct and choreograph.
- The Greatest Showman musical opens in the West End in spring 2027.
- Oliver Tompsett and Samantha Barks lead the announced cast.
- The show follows a successful Bristol pre-West End run.
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The Greatest Showman began as a 2017 film inspired loosely by P.T. Barnum, a 19th-century American showman associated with circus entertainment and publicity. It starred Hugh Jackman and became especially well known for its pop-influenced songs, written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
The story centres on Barnum’s efforts to build a spectacle business, alongside his family life and relationships with performers and partners. Its characters include Charity Barnum, his wife; Phillip Carlyle, a theatre producer; Jenny Lind, a celebrated singer; and Lettie Lutz, a performer in Barnum’s troupe.
Disney Theatrical Group produces stage versions of Disney films and other related works for major theatres. Theatre Royal Drury Lane is a large West End venue in central London, where commercial musical productions often have long runs.