Lee Mead to star as the world's Greatest Showman in BARNUM 2026 UK tour
Bill Kenwright Ltd has announced a major UK tour of Barnum, the classic Broadway musical that celebrates the life of the world’s greatest showman, P.T. Barnum, beginning at Theatre Royal Windsor on 30 January 2026.
Following Windsor, the tour will visit Manchester, York, Brighton, , Cardiff, Aylesbury, and Birmingham, with further venues/dates to be announced.
West End favourite and TV star Lee Mead will take centre stage as the legendary P.T. Barnum. Known for his breakout win on Any Dream Will Do and acclaimed performances in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Wicked and Legally Blonde, Mead brings charisma, vocal brilliance and emotional depth to the title role.
Barnum first took the UK by storm when it played the London Palladium, with Michael Crawford making theatrical history with a death-defying nightly tightrope walk across the stage. And now, Lee Mead steps into Barnum’s shoes and on to the tightrope!
Chairperson at Bill Kenwright Ltd, Jenny Seagrove, said: “I was captivated when I saw Barnum at the Watermill Theatre last year and knew immediately that this was a show I wanted to bring to audiences across the country. Our spectacular new staging will feature an extraordinary ensemble cast of over 20 actor-musicians playing 150 instruments, acrobats and amazing international circus acts led by the wonderful Lee Mead playing the title role.”
With direction by Jonathan O’Boyle and choreography by Oti Mabuse, The Observer called the Watermill Theatre production a “dazzling all-singing, all-juggling musical tribute to the 19th-century circus showman” in their five star review.
Step right up and enter the dazzling world of P.T. Barnum, where imagination and ambition know no bounds. Hand in hand with wife Charity, Barnum’s life and career twists and turns as he schemes and dreams his way to headier heights.
Come follow the band with the glorious music of multi-award-winner Cy Coleman, Michael Stewart’s lyrics and Mark Bramble’s book. The show features a whole host of classic show tunes including ‘Join the Circus’, ‘Colours of My Life’, ‘Come Follow the Band’ and ‘Love Makes Such Fools of Us All’.
The creative team also includes set and costume designer Lee Newby, lighting designer Jai Morjaria, sound designer Tom Marshall, musical supervisor, arranger and orchestrator George Dyer, and circus director Amy Panter.