The lights turn down and a hush descends over the audience. Something is crackling in the atmosphere, a buzz of excitement. Boom. One bass drum hit and everyone knows the song. Boom boom. The show has begun.
Based on the music of The Greatest Showman, This is the Greatest Show is a celebration of music from this century and the last, performed by a live band and a cast of West End singers.
From the very opening of This is the Greatest Show, the musicians and singers had the audience, myself included, completely in the palm of their hand. Gorgeous costumes, romantic flair and incredible vocals all blended together to create an evening of entertainment which, quite frankly, I hadn’t been expecting. As well as performing songs from some of the most famous musicals in the West End and on Broadway, as promised in their programme and on the website, the band and singers incorporated popular music from, to quote the MC of the evening, ‘some of the greatest show-men and -women of all time’. From Wicked and The Greatest Showman to Meatloaf and Queen; from Pippin and Moulin Rouge to Frozen and The Lion King, there was something that everyone knew and could sing along to. That’s another thing – the audience were actively encouraged to sing along, turning the show into a concert of everyone’s favourite tunes.
However, it wasn’t only the brilliant musical talent which made the night, but also the way in which the singers interacted with the audience, making jokes and encouraging people to join in with the show. It was an interactive experience that I would recommend to anyone with a love of music.
If you can’t stop listening to This Is Me on repeat, or you just fancy a sing-a-long with a few hundred other people, then you can book tickets to the show online from a theatre near you. Tour dates can be found on their website here
By Caitlin Jones.
