Barnum: The Circus Musical

Barnum is a proper theatrical spectacle. Over 20 actor-musicians, acrobats, and circus performers bring the story of P.T. Barnum to life, with Lee Mead walking a tightrope every single night without a harness or safety mats. That alone is worth the ticket price.

What to Expect

Lee Mead shot to fame winning Any Dream Will Do and has been a West End fixture ever since. He leads a cast that includes over 20 performers in a show choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing’s Oti Mabuse and directed by Jonathan O’Boyle. The music is by Cy Coleman, the lyrics by Michael Stewart, and the whole thing is a celebration of showmanship, spectacle, and the art of making people believe in the impossible.

The centrepiece is the tightrope walk. Every night, Mead steps onto a wire high above the stage with no harness and no mats. Michael Crawford did the same thing over thirty years ago when the show first ran in the West End, and it’s just as thrilling now. Mead has said it’s scary every time, which somehow makes it more impressive.

The show runs April 14 to 18 at the Bord Gais, with evening and matinee performances. It’s family-friendly, visually spectacular, and genuinely exciting theatre.

Good to Know

• Runs April 14 to 18 with evening shows at 7:30pm and matinees on selected days
• Features a real tightrope walk without safety equipment every performance
• Under 16s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian
• The Bord Gais has excellent sightlines from almost every seat
• Bar and cafe open before shows and during intervals

Getting There

The Bord Gais Energy Theatre is on Grand Canal Square. Luas Red Line to Grand Canal Dock or the DART to Grand Canal Dock station are both a five-minute walk. Dublin Bus routes 1, 47, 56a, and 77a serve the area.