The story behind Come Alive!
Roll up, roll up! London will shortly be hosting the greatest circus show in town! The Come Alive! show, an official Greatest Showman ‘Circus Spectacular’, is arriving in the capital on Monday 23 September at the Empress Museum in Earl’s Court. Delivering close-up performances from some of the world’s leading circus artists and musical theatre talent, it’s an immersive experience that’s sure to impress. But what’s the story? We take a look.
The Greatest Showman
When The Greatest Showman hit cinemas in 2017, it was an instant success. Set in the 19th century and based on the life of P.T. (Phineas Taylor) Barnum, it weaves together the spectacle of the circus, the emotion of musical theatre and the story of hardship and romance.
Living and working with his tailor father for the Hallett family, the young Phineas falls in love with their daughter Charity. When she is sent away to finishing school, he promises they won’t be separated, and after staying in touch with frequent letters, they reunite and marry. The humble Phineas struggles to give Charity the life she has been accustomed to, and although she is happy, he wants more.
After losing his job he deceives the bank in order to get a loan, which he uses to open a wax museum. But with ticket sales proving poor, he seeks out live ‘freaks’ including a bearded lady, a strong man and an acrobat. This brings in new-found wealth, but also criticism - and Barnum remains an outsider in upper-class society.
The re-named ‘Barnum’s Circus’ reaches a new height when Phineas collaborates with playwright Phillip Carlyle and persuades Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind to become a performer. This gains him favour within the aristocracy, but he distances himself from the original troupe with catastrophic consequences: after a failed tour with Jenny Lind, whose love he rejects, causing her to cancel the remaining shows, he returns home to find the circus on fire and his wife and daughters living with Charity’s parents.
The troupe persuades a depressed Barnum to rebuild the circus, and he realises that chasing wealth has led him to forget what truly matters - his family and friends. He opens his new circus in an open-air tent by the docks, repairs his relationship with Charity and enjoys huge success.
Come Alive!
The Come Alive! musical isn’t a direct retelling of the movie. Rather, it’s inspired by the film’s events, showcasing some of the best circus and entertainment acts in the world. Playing in a 700-seater Big Top, it recreates the magic of circus and includes several numbers from The Greatest Showman, including ‘Never Enough’, ‘This Is Me’, ‘Come Alive’ and ‘From Now On’.
The show is based in a contemporary setting, telling the story of the Showman (Simon Bailey) and Max (Aaliya Mai), a shy young labourer who has grown up with the circus and will soon discover her true potential. Audiences will see over 30 acrobats, jugglers, dancers and singers come together to deliver an immersive and exciting experience.
Book your tickets to Come Alive live with KX Tickets today.
