Come Alive! The greatest Showman

In the transformed Empress Museum, director Simon Hammerstein presents Come Alive!, a circus-infused homage to The Greatest Showman. His production offers a sensory spectacle, blending quality live renditions of Pasek and Paul's glorious anthems with high-flying acrobatics and a pretty confusing new plot. Do not expect a stage version of the much loved film – here’s hoping that’s in development somewhere.

The "Empress Museum," is a curated space featuring circus memorabilia, beautifully constructed gypsy vans and a huge glittering bar and street food. Making your way from the dimly lit corridors, you emerge into The 700-seat arena. It might sound big but in fact it is a surprisingly intimate space in which to see aerialists, fire-breathers, and contortionists up close, every muscle and sinew illuminated at close range. The extraordinary talent of these circus acts are combined with impressive live vocals which will not disappoint fans of the film who basically makes up the entire audience.

However, the show's attempt at weaving a new narrative around these musical numbers proves less successful. The story of Max, a young woman drawn into the circus world, lacks coherence or any emotional depth. Ultimately it feels like a tenuous link between set pieces and clashes uncomfortably with the audiences shared knowledge of the film narrative. At times the direction is chaotic and unspecific with the eye drawn to too many sights and sounds at once.

Despite these shortcomings, the production's strengths lie in its commitment to spectacle and its evident passion for performance. The live vocals, particularly from leads Simon Bailey and Aaliya Mai, resonate powerfully, and the ensemble's energy is infectious. While Come Alive! may not offer the narrative cohesion of its cinematic predecessor, it delivers an evening of exuberant entertainment that celebrates the magic of the circus and the enduring appeal of its musical inspirations.