The Greatest Showman musical is coming to London's West End
Listen to the story
The Greatest Showman, the popular 2017 film starring Hugh Jackman, is being turned into a stage musical. It will open in London's West End in spring 2027.
The film became famous for its chart-topping soundtrack, which many people still listen to today. The new stage version hopes to bring the same music to life for theatre audiences.
This Disney production already had a successful run earlier this year in Bristol. The eight-week show was a complete sellout, meaning every ticket was bought by fans.
Two of the stars from the Bristol show, Oliver Tompsett and Samantha Barks, will return for the West End run. They will resume their original roles at the famous Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Drury Lane is one of London's most well-known theatres and has hosted many major musicals over the years. Bringing The Greatest Showman there shows how much demand there is for the show.
Fans of the film's music, including songs that topped charts worldwide, are expected to be excited about seeing the story performed live on stage.
The move from screen to stage follows a common trend, where popular films are adapted into musicals for theatre audiences who want to experience the story in a new way.
Vocabulary10 words
- stage musical
- a show with singing and dancing performed live in a theatre
- chart-topping
- very popular and at the top of music lists
- production
- a show or performance that is organised and presented
- sellout
- when every ticket for a show is sold
- resume
- to start doing something again
- West End
- a famous theatre area in central London
- adapted
- changed from one form into another, like film to stage
- demand
- how much people want something
- hosted
- held an event, like a show
- trend
- a general direction that many things follow
Quiz
Answer key
1. The West End 2. It sold out completely 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The Greatest Showman, the popular 2017 film starring Hugh Jackman, is being turned into a _____. It will open in London's West End in spring 2027.
The film became famous for its _____ soundtrack, which many people still listen to today. The new stage version hopes to bring the same music to life for theatre audiences.
This Disney _____ already had a successful run earlier this year in Bristol. The eight-week show was a complete _____, meaning every ticket was bought by fans.
Two of the stars from the Bristol show, Oliver Tompsett and Samantha Barks, will return for the West End run. They will _____ their original roles at the famous Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Drury Lane is one of London's most well-known theatres and has _____ many major musicals over the years. Bringing The Greatest Showman there shows how much _____ there is for the show.
Fans of the film's music, including songs that topped charts worldwide, are expected to be excited about seeing the story performed live on stage.
The move from screen to stage follows a common _____, where popular films are _____ into musicals for theatre audiences who want to experience the story in a new way.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think films like The Greatest Showman get turned into stage musicals?
- Would you rather watch a film or a live musical version of the same story? Why?
- What makes a show's soundtrack become 'chart-topping' and popular for years?
- Do you think a sellout run in one city means a show will succeed in another city too?
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