Barnum

Marcus Brigstocke and Laura Pitt-Pulford to star in Barnum at the Menier

Will Longman
Will Longman

Initial casting has been announced for the Menier Chocolate Factory's production of Barnum.

Marcus Brigstocke and Laura Pitt-Pulford are set to perform in the musical which follows the life of showman PT Barnum, who toured the major American cities throughout the 1800s. As well as featuring musical numbers, the show combine elemets of circus performance, such as clowns, jugglers and trapeze acts.

Written by Mark bramble, with music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Michael Steward, the musical premiered on Broadway in 1980 before opening in the West End the following year. It features the songs "The Colors of My Life", "There is a Sucker Born Ev'ry Minute" and "Come Follow the Band". The original New York cast featured Glenn Close, and Michael Crawford starred when the show transferred to the UK.

Marcus Brigstocke will play the title character, PT Barnum. Brigstocke, who started his career as a comic, made his musical theatre debut as King Arthur in Spamalot in 2011. He went on to star in The Railway Children as Albert Perks, which took place at Waterloo train station. Earlier this year, he performed in a semi-staged concert version of Oklahoma! at the Proms.

Laura Pitt-Pulford, who will play Charity recently appeared in the UK touring revival of Nell Gwynn. Her London theatre credits include Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, and the UK premiere Side Show at Southwark Playhouse.

The cast also includes Celinde Schoenmaker (recently seen playing Christine in The Phantom of the Opera) as Jenny Lind, Tupele Dorgu as Joice Heth and Harry Francis, who will play Tom Thumb.

They will be joined by Danny Collins, Eamonn Cox, Ainsley Hall Ricketts, Courtney Hows, Philip Marriott, Dominic Owen and Lucie-Mae Sumner, with further casting to be announced.

Directed by Gordon Greenberg, Barnum runs as the Menier Chocolate Factory from 25th November 2017 to 3rd March 2018.

Originally published on

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