Come Alive! Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular-Earls Court

[mattnyc]

I still don’t even know what this even is, exactly. Does it have a story and music or is it just a circus show?

[Steve]

Jul 17, 2024 10:17:54 GMT FJ said:

Jul 17, 2024 9:39:57 GMT Steve said:

Got my email and booked a ticket for this.

It didn't offer me a choice of seat, just a choice of prices, so of course I plumped for the lowest price cos I'm not paying a lot of money unless I know the value of what I'm paying for.

Also, if you can't select your seat, then you can't do what I always do: figure out what you're willing to pay and select a seat next to a much more expensive seat lol.

So I'll be at the back and at the wrong side (if there is a wrong side) as this looks in the round.

The most expensive price I saw offered was £125. The cheapest was the £25 I paid. Fingers crossed lol.

Which date were you booking for Steve?

I got through after waiting for about an hour in the queue but seemed to have full choice of seats in the seating plan. This was for first week of previews, but about 75% of the seats were £65, with a section being exclusively £125 premium package seats and then a few rows of £25 seats as well, either with the back to the band or in the back rows of the sections opposite.

Hopefully being in the round all seats offer a great view anyway though!

Oh well done!

I think I booked before they enabled self-selection.

Either that or I simply couldn't use the website properly lol.

I think my seat is back row of the section opposite, from your description.

[Steve]

Jul 17, 2024 11:04:13 GMT mattnyc said:

I still don’t even know what this even is, exactly. Does it have a story and music or is it just a circus show?

Their website seems to suggest it's a new story using the songs.

That would leave the way open for a proper show in the future not to be adversely affected by this show.

[BurlyBeaR]

Has there been much publicity for this in London? I can’t believe that people were queuing to buy tickets (although I don’t really believe anything about these ticket queues) when it sounds like one of those awful tribute shows that go round ATG venues. Also, circus. Hard pass.

[moorhunhe]

I was in the queue for about an hour when I got the email. Never saw any 25£ seats. Either 35 or 40 for the last rown next to the band.
I then forgot to book last night, because I had to wait for my boyfriend to get back from work to have a decent look at it, so we just booked the 35£ tickets.

[Afriley]

Anyone know if the rehearsal stories of Danielle Fiamanya etc are to do with this show?

[blamerobots]

I don't see the appeal or point of this show, but I guess people are queueing so there definitely is an audience.

I've heard "This Is Me" on the radio so many times now the song is complete white noise. I couldn't bear more Greatest Showman.

I do find this is being advertised in the vaguest way possible; is it likely that most buying are expecting the musical version of the Greatest Showman and will likely be disappointed when it isn't, but all claims will be nullified by "ah well we never said that in the marketing"

A roundabout money-laundering scheme? Who knows

[danb]

The film is a bit thin anyway, so its perhaps best to beef it up with some circus business until P&P have written a bit more show.

[Afriley]

P&P were on some mysterious rehearsal stories with Sam Barks, Em Kingston, Jamie Muscato et al. Not sure if that’s the cast or if it’s something else but people will definitely run to this if they are in it.

[stevej678]

Full cast announced.

www.whatsonstage.com/news/cast-announced-for-greatest-showman-circus-show-come-alive_1623111/

Although I was pretty cynical about this when it was first announced, it does sound promising. FOMO kicked in and I couldn't resist booking a cheeky Friday matinee in December.

[unseaworthy]

Am I right in thinking this has no plot? Is it just a rip off of Cirque Du Soleil?

[BurlyBeaR]

Aug 14, 2024 22:29:22 GMT unseaworthy said:

Am I right in thinking this has no plot? Is it just a rip off of Cirque Du Soleil?

Read into this what you will…

With a completely original story by Jenny Bicks, and songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, it will be opening inside a dedicated 700-seat big top space at the Empress Museum in London’s Earls Court

And from IMDB:

Jenny Bicks was born on 30 July 1963 in the USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Sex and the City (1998), Rio 2 (2014) and The Greatest Showman (2017).

[c4ndyc4ne]

Looks like this is produced by TSG Entertainment who produced the original TGS film, rather than disney who now own the rights to the film. Interesting to see they've been allowed to use the songs but not the script. Sounds like a very loose narrative to facilitate different circus acts accompanying the songs

[Steve]

The first two previews have been cancelled:-

"We are writing with news that unfortunately, due to the complexity and scale of

COME ALIVE! THE GREATEST SHOWMAN CIRCUS SPECTACULAR at the Empress Museum, we've had to make the difficult decision to cancel the first 2 previews on 23rd and 25th September.

The first preview performance will now be on Friday 27th September.

We would like to offer you an exchange to any other performance (subject to availability) and would like to reassure you the guarantee of the same high quality seats you had purchased to ensure your visit is spectacular."

Since I had the £25 seats, wherever they exchange me to, on the dates I can make it, will at least not be a downgrade lol.

[BurlyBeaR]

Complexity and scale.

Mmmkay.

[danb]

Nowhere to tie off their guy ropes?

[stuart]

There was an invited dress last night. Some footage on Luke Bayer’s Instagram story.

[FrontroverPaul]

Saw this last night.

It's basically a human circus with the (trapeze artists, tightrope walkers and general acrobatic/ fire-based) acts accompanied by performances of songs from The Greatest Showman. If there is supposed to be a story line the basis of it escaped me.

It certainly isn't a musical in the traditional sense, nor does it purport to be. The venue is the "Empress Museum" just a couple of minutes across the road from West Brompton Station (District Line and London Overground so very easy to get to).

As you enter and walk round there's a display of circus memorabilia and photos a showman's wagon etc. There are performers walking round and interacting with visitors. At 6.45 there was a pre-show in a side room , a mix of acrobatics and bubble blowing (which was actually really impressive, never seen a bubble shaped like a rocket which rises or a giant square one!)

The performance area is like a traditional big top. I was near the back in a £29.50 seat and had a perfect view throughout. I'd advise to get the cheapest available ticket as it's more a £30 show than a £50+ one. The main show started at 7.40 last night, there was a 30 minute interval though with loud pounding disco music playing throughout so it felt even longer. Ended 9.25. So about 75 minutes actual showtime. Singing along, cheering and generally getting excited is positively encouraged throughout. The cast all do what they do well. I'm glad I saw it but wouldn't revisit.

I arrived at 6.40 to find they were doing very thorough bag searches and not allowing ANY food or drink in except plain water. The family in front of me had a packet of sweets and a bar of chocolate taken, despite dad's protestations. They were putting things in a big plastic box and telling people they could collect them at the end. I had a bag with some shopping and was give a numbered ticket and they put it under the table. I don't think confectionary was being sold as I couldn't see anyone with any during the show or interval. They were of course selling drinks and hot food at pretty steep prices. I think taking such a tough stance on having own food and drink at a family show/circus is completely wrong.

The seats are uncomfortable, close together and legroom very poor. Worst of all they are low backed. The knees of the man sitting behind me were constantly in contact with my back, the fidgety child in front kept pushing against my knees.

Recommended only if you like a trip to the circus and can tolerate almost an hour of loud pounding music. Not worth going just for the Greatest Showman songs in my opinion. Incidentally there is a 4 minute clip on You Tube but what's there is the only downbeat moment of the entire show and not representative at all.

[BurlyBeaR]

Sounds awful in every aspect. And taking a bar of chocolate off a kid when they don’t even sell it inside is very poor behaviour.

And what happened to the “completely original story by Jenny Bucks”?

[fiyero]

I always have snacks in my bag as it isn't uncommon for me to not get home for 3 hours after a show! I assume they have made this all clear in any emails they have sent me. Shame I'm being put off the show due to elements outside the show!!

[mrbarnaby]

This sounds as awful as it looks.
It’s like a challenge on the Apprentice has come to life.

I’ll wait for the proper show to arrive.

[showtoones]

Is it better to be close or far away for this? And are all viewing areas in the theater the same or there better viewing sections? Obviously the premium purple seats are out… Lol.

[mrbarnaby]

Oct 3, 2024 14:30:04 GMT showtoones said:

Is it better to be close or far away for this? And are all viewing areas in the theater the same or there better viewing sections? Obviously the premium purple seats are out… Lol.

I think it’s better to be outside, in a bar somewhere.

[showtoones]

Oct 3, 2024 14:48:18 GMT mrbarnaby said:

Oct 3, 2024 14:30:04 GMT showtoones said:

Is it better to be close or far away for this? And are all viewing areas in the theater the same or there better viewing sections? Obviously the premium purple seats are out… Lol.

I think it’s better to be outside, in a bar somewhere.

That made me laugh out loud...

[unseaworthy]

This sounds awful - was it busy?