In 2017, The Greatest Showman opened in cinemas around the world, becoming a favourite with musical lovers internationally because of its compelling and relevant themes, energetic performances, and of course, the incredible star power of that most charismatic Australian man, Hugh Jackman. The movie netted $435 million in theatres and was a huge success. No surprise then that Simon Hammerstein, the grandson of the legendary lyricist Oscar Hammerstein, thought it would be a great idea to build a circus spectacular show that features the hit songs from The Greatest Showman. As a huge fan of the movie and its music, I was very excited when I heard this and couldn’t wait to check it out.
On entering the impressive Empress Museum in West London, my companion and I were met by some very interesting looking characters indeed! In the hour preceding the show, audiences are invited to come early and get immersed in the circus environment. There are clowns – no traditional clown makeup, they won’t trigger your IT nightmares, I promise – jugglers, a magician, and all manner of weird and wonderful people roaming around and interacting with the audience. I was bowed down to by a troupe of clown-type people, then we walked into another ‘tent’ and saw a contortionist performing (she was very funny as well as very bendy). I put the word tent in inverted commas because the entire event takes place inside the huge space of the museum, but Ruby Law’s gorgeous set design makes it feel somewhat like you are in a series of circus tents. There is a close-up magician you can visit during the immersive pre-show, as well as the ‘Happy Medium’ if you wish to know your fortune! All the colourful characters you’ll meet are performers in the main show.
We grabbed some food and drinks – more like a circus than a traditional theatre, you are able to buy all kinds of burgers, fried chicken, and the like, and even take them in with you; we had a sharer combo of chicken and it was easily enough for three or four people – and headed into the main circus ring. Designed to look and feel like a big top, there are canvas drapes on the ceiling and above the seating. The seats are, as you’d expect, surrounding a big circus ring almost all the way around, and there is a band – The Five Tops – on a raised balcony designed to look like a hot air balloon. The lights went down and you could feel the anticipation… then the showman enters singing Come Alive (of course)… Simon Bailey, playing the showman, is definitely channelling Hugh Jackman in this performance. He looks a lot like Hugh, with a similar shape of face, and it sounded like he was trying to sound like him too. His performance is energetic and passionate, and he brings a bit of that Barnum magic to the show.
During the opening number, Bailey is joined by most of the cast, and it is a big, fun, powerful piece that I found reminiscent of the This Is Me performance in the film, and I was quite moved. Then everyone goes off, and this girl and guy run on; it’s clear he’s ‘in the show’ and she’s supposed to be his girlfriend wishing him luck – yes, it’s a storyline of sorts. So he goes off to… wherever… and she’s about to go, when the Showman comes over and basically tells her ‘no, you should stay here and join the show’. It feels a bit random, and I’m not sure the storyline is at all necessary. The girlfriend character, Max, is played by Aaliya Mai in her professional debut, and she has a phenomenal voice, even if her story in itself doesn’t seem to really fit in with all the circus acts and is just an attempt at stringing the well-known songs to a narrative.
The vocal performances in Come Alive are an undeniable highlight, with a powerhouse lineup of singers bringing The Greatest Showman hits to life. Jason Brock, Jaz Ellington, Charlotte-Hannah Jones, and Fallon Mondlane fill the ‘big top’ with their powerful voices as they blow the audience away with their renditions of Never Enough and A Million Dreams. Their voices come together beautifully as the circus spectacle unfolds before you.
Unnecessary storyline aside, the real show for me was the circus performances. The upper body strength of these performers as they balanced on each other, threw each other, spun on hoops suspended in the air, and performed so many more incredible feats, made me feel proud to be a human being, and less proud of my own flabby body compared to these superhumans.
One of my favourite acts was the teeterboard – an awe-inspiring display of strength and precision. The acrobats launching each other into the air, flipping and twisting with perfect control, kept everyone on the edge of their seats. You could feel the collective intake of breath from the audience as they stuck almost every landing – one guy struggled with a landing, only to have the whole audience cheer him on to redo it; speaking to him after the show, he said that the audience’s support really made that moment so special for him, and when he landed it perfectly the second time, we all went wild! It’s these moments where Come Alive truly lives up to its name, reminding us of the pure thrill of live performance.
There was also an incredible slack line performer, Antino Pansa, who is known for working with the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil. He was flipping and jumping, moving up and down on the slack line with such skill, it was so impressive to behold. Another highlight for me was Bella Diosa’s hair suspension act. She was attached to a rope only by her hair – if you’ve never seen an act like this, it’s mind-blowing – and she spun, danced, and basically flew all over the ring, with the grace of a gazelle, and without so much as a wince! I have primary-aged daughters, and you should see the fuss they make when they have to have their hair brushed! Needless to say, all the circus performances are incredible, and you will be on the edge of your seat for most of the show.
In the end, Come Alive is exactly what it promises to be: a vibrant, fun, and visually stunning spectacle. It’s not aiming to be the next great narrative-driven piece of theatre, and that’s fine because it doesn’t need to be. The focus here is on delivering high-energy performances, dazzling acrobatics, and powerful music, and on that front, it succeeds brilliantly.
For fans of The Greatest Showman, circus performances, or anyone looking for a fun and spectacular night out, ‘Come Alive!’ The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular is a great choice. It’s an evening of pure entertainment where the music, the circus acts, and the sheer spectacle take centre stage. Ignore the attempt at a storyline and just let the show take you along for the ride. The performances, the beautiful people, and all their incredible talents, both vocal and physical, will leave you feeling like you’ve really witnessed something special. It’s a show full of heart, talent, and breathtaking moments that will leave you buzzing long after you step out of the big top. So, roll up, roll up, and get your tickets now!
Currently booking until March 2025 at www.comealiveshow.com
Words by Nick Barr
Photography by Luke Dyson
