BARNUM
BY MARK BRAMBLE, MICHAEL STEWART & CY COLEMAN
WATERMILL THEATRE
Cast
Matt Rawle, Monique Young, Penny Ashmore, Fergus Rattigan, Tania Mathurin, Emma Jane Morton, Tom Sowinski, Tom Sterling, Josh Barnett, Charis Alexandra, Jessica Jolleys, Elena Bluck, Kaine Hatukai, Laura Sillett, Keira Burton, Dan Holland, Andre Rodrigues.
Director
Musical Director
Choreographer
Set and Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Sound Designer
Associate Choreographer
Associate Lighting Designer
Associate Sound Designer
Circus Director
Assistant Director
Company Stage Manger
Stage Manager
Deputy Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Managers
Costume Supervisors
Production Manager
Produced by
Photographed by
Jonathan O'Boyle
George Dyer
Oti Mabuse
Lee Newby
Jai Morjaria
Tom Marshall
Matt Nicholson
Luca Panetta
Nick Lodge
Amy Panter
Sophia Galluci
Cat Pewsey
Geoffrey Field
Karen Habens
Fern Bamber & Liani Johnson
Hannah Gilbert, Natalie Jackson and Suzy Andrews
Tom Nickson
Jonathan Brindley
for Watermill Theatre
Pamela Raith
What better way to lead us indoors to our seats, where we realise that the whole theatre has not only been transformed but grown to easily accommodate a ringed circus without losing any of its intimacy in Newby’s outstanding set design. It uses every level, continuing the scarlet and yellow circus theme to set up a show that is quirky and funny, graceful and workable all at the same time.
WHAT'S ON STAGE
★★★★★
Jonathan O’Boyle’s production simply ignores any issues surrounding the venue’s intimate space, packing in marching bands, aerial performers and more red, white and blue than your average Republican Party rally.
This carefully measured excess works well, thanks to a witty set and costume design from Lee Newby and an ensemble cast of boisterous actor-musicians led by Matt Rawle as PT Barnum.
THE STAGE
★★★★
Lee Newby has transformed the Watermill into a full-top circus inside and out. With a fire-eater, jugglers, and an actor-muso group greeting the audience, the entertainment continues inside as a trio of trapezists rehearse. His set has a distinctly American circus aesthetic harkening to the American Dream Barnum sells to punters, with red and blue stripes and white stars adorning the auditorium.
BROADWAY WORLD
★★★★
Kudos also to Lee Newby’s bright, colourful designs and the seamless movement direction shared between Strictly Come Dancing’s Oti Mabuse, as choreographer, and Amy Panter, overseeing the circus skills.
It all adds up to impressive fun.
THE TIMES
★★★★
With Lee Newby’s exquisite costumes – including the acrobats’ period outfits and the Pierrots –
it manifests the idea of circus as a showcase for the furthest reaches of human imagination
and capability.Newby’s set never looks crammed despite the fleet of dancers, acrobats and actor-musicians (with two pianos wheeled on at one point).
THE GUARDIAN
★★★
This all comes alive flawlessly thanks to Lee Newby’s stunning set design, filling every inch of the Watermill Theatre with fun and excitement, recreating Barnum’s world and welcoming us all into it.
ALL THAT DAZZLES
★★★★
THE SPY IN THE STALLS
★★★★
The costumes are perfect throughout and the theatre’s small proscenium stage is turned into a believable red, white and blue circus big top, all designed by Lee Newby.