THE GREATEST SHOWMAN CIRCUS SPECTACULAR: COME ALIVE! PRE-SHOW
London, Empress Musuem [2024]
Set Design by Ruby Law
‘Come Alive!’ The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular is an exciting new theatre production that brings the magic of The Greatest Showman to life. Inspired by the 20th Century Fox film, written by Jenny Bicks, this circus musical features all the iconic songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, including “This Is Me,” “Rewrite the Stars,” and “A Million Dreams.”
The experience begins even before the show starts, with an immersive pre-show that turns the impossible into reality. Drawing inspiration from circus life spanning the 1870s to today, we’ve crafted a world where a quirky, vibrant circus family seems to have taken over a building, with their living quarters spilling into the Big Top itself.
As the audience steps into the Empress Museum, where history and enchantment merge, they enter a portal into a world of wonder. Imagine the Zephyr family bouncing on trampolines high among the clouds, daredevils performing jaw-dropping knife-throwing stunts in the Night Sky Marquee, and surprising performances popping up in unexpected corners - behind the Big Top and beyond. Each moment unfolds like a magical discovery, inviting you deeper into the captivating spectacle.
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"We needed the building to have an identity," explains set designer Ruby Law, "so after a lot of iterations, we settled on the idea of a museum.” - The Standard
“ Ahead of the show, there’s lots going on in this newly developed space… plenty of immersive fun, thoughtfully designed by Ruby Law to offer the impression of an old-fashioned tented circus complex. “ - The Stage
“ The theming is expertly done… Aside from the talent, the set design is integral to a production like this one, and what Ruby Law has achieved is astounding. Every costume and set piece is bursting with colour and personality, and makes for a visual feast for the senses” - Stage to Page
“ The combination of exciting props and set design by Ruby Law … gives Come Alive a beautiful aesthetic…” - All That Dazzles
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Produced by: Chip Seelig and Lana Lort | Creative Director: Simon Hammerstein | Music Producer: Matthew Brind | Choreographer: Jerry Reeve & Lukas McFarlane | Set Designer: Ruby Law @ RULA | Associate Set Designer: Machiko Weston, Yorgos Kefalas and Tea Mulabdic | Lighting Designer: Adam Bassett @WBD | Associate Lighting Designer: Alex Forey | Costume Designer: Susan Kulkarni and Martina Trottmann | Sound Design: Gareth Tucker | Music Supervisor: Greg Arrowsmith | Performance Director: Bryn Harris | Circus Director: Tilde Björfors and Mattias Andersson | Circus Consultant: Jack Marsh | Art Director: Mika Handley | Props Supervisor: Mary Halliday | Head of Lighting: Adam Povey | Technical Director: Gary Beaston @GBA | Production Manager: Oli Bagwell Purefoy | Creative Producer: Andrea Moccia | General Manager: Victoria Gagliano | Executive Producer: Aidan Grounds and Rebecca Quigley
Photography Credit: RULA Design Studio + Luke Dyson
