The Greatest Showman to open at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in spring 2027

Disney Theatrical Group has announced that, following its sell-out run at the Bristol Hippodrome earlier this year, its brand-new stage adaptation of The Greatest Showman will premiere at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in spring 2027.

Based on the 2017 smash-hit film, the musical has songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, a book by Tim Federle, and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw. The production continues Disney Theatrical Group's longstanding association with LW Theatres' historic venue since it reopened following its extensive restoration in 2021.

The Greatest Showman stars Oliver Tompsett as P.T. Barnum, Samantha Barks as Charity Barnum, Ben Joyce as Phillip Carlyle, Vajèn van den Bosch as Jenny Lind and Malinda Parris as Lettie Lutz. Further casting is to be announced.

The musical features the Grammy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated songs by EGOT winners Pasek and Paul (La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen), including The Greatest Show, A Million Dreams, Come Alive, Rewrite the Stars, Never Enough and the Golden Globe Award-winning This Is Me, together with brand-new songs written especially for the stage.

Based on the 20th Century Studios motion picture with story by Jenny Bicks, The Greatest Showman is the first 20th Century Studios title to be adapted for the stage by Disney Theatrical Group. The Seelig Group, a producer of the original film, also produces the musical.

Anne Quart and Andrew Flatt for Disney Theatrical Group said: “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 added: “The show is born of a collaboration with an incredible group of artists. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul return with the songs audiences will know and love, alongside exhilarating new numbers created especially for the stage; Tim Federle's book captures a heartfelt love of theatre and show business; and two-time Tony Award-winning Casey Nicholaw directs an extraordinary cast led by the incomparable Oliver Tompsett and Samantha Barks. We're thrilled to begin this next chapter in our long association with Theatre Royal Drury Lane — this feels like a very special homecoming.”

Welcome to The Greatest Showman, where the ordinary is left behind and dreamers, outsiders and trailblazers take centre stage. A restless maverick refuses the life everyone expects of him and, determined to build the greatest show on earth, brings together those the world never expected to shine, creating something far bigger than he ever imagined.

Completing the creative team are Alex Lacamoire (music supervision, incidental and 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 design), Natalie Gallacher CDG for Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher Casting (casting director) and Keston & Keston (children's casting director and general manager), with acrobat casting by The 7 Fingers. Justin Paul also provides vocal and incidental music arrangements.

The Greatest Showman plays at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine Street, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5JF. Audiences can sign up for priority booking at thegreatestshowman.co.uk, with the performance schedule and on-sale dates to be announced in due course.