Barnum programme

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The Co-op Juniors Theatre Company presents

In the Circus Fantasia Big Top by kind permission of East of England Co-op at Wherstead Park, Ipswich

Seven performances - June 28 to July 1, 2018

Music by Cy Coleman. Lyrics by Michael Stewart. Book by Mark Bramble Originally produced on the Broadway stage by Judy Gordon, Cy Coleman, Maurice and Lois F. Rosenfeld in association with Irwin Feld and Kenneth Feld Presented by arrangement with MusicScope and Stage Musicals Limited of New York

Gasp as an aerial artist spins high above the circus ring. Laugh at the antics of clowns.

Cheer the daring high-wire walker and

‘I don’t care what the n ewspapers say about me as long as they spell my n ame right’

applaud the juggler.

P T Barnum

It’s the magic of circus, where what we see often defies belief. Music, sequins, feathers, thrills and skill, spectacle, illusion and, all around the ring, delight on every face.

There’s something very timely about this production of the hit musical, Barnum.

This year is the 250th anniversary of circus in Britain. The popular success of the film musical The Greatest Showman, starring Hugh Jackman, has introduced a new generation to the phenomenon that was P T Barnum, and his wife Charity.

P T Barnum with Tom Thumb

2018 also marks the 150th anniversary of East of England Co-op, who have supported the Co-op Juniors Theatre Company for over 70 years and own Wherstead Park. What better place to erect our Big Top and celebrate!

cker ‘There’s a su inute’ born every m um P T Barn

Sanger’s touring circus in Britain, late 1800s

Phineas Taylor Barnum, the subject of our musical, was an American showman and entrepreneur in the 1800s who had a knack for publicity, some of it from inspired hoaxes. He had a number of travelling fairs and promoted them in typical style as The Greatest Show on Earth.

Unusually, during 1850 and 1851, he promoted a major US tour with the Swedish soprano Jenny Lind, who appears in this musical as part of the story of Barnum’s life.

The circus kept going for another 110 years until it finally closed in Florida in May 2017.

It was the end of an era.

The musical Barnum, set between 1835 and 1880, ‘No one ever made a difference by being like every opened on Broadway one else’ P T Barnum in 1980 with Jim Dale playing the title role. The following year, the London production at the Palladium starred Michael Crawford as Barnum. The musical was reworked by Cameron Mackintosh at the Chichester Festival Theatre in 2013 and a national tour followed, with Brian Conley and Linzi Hateley.

The company - Sanger’s touring circus in Britain

When he teamed up with James Bailey in 1881 and created Barnum and Bailey’s Circus, it became the largest in the world.

Barnum and Bailey toured the USA, complete with performing animals, using a purpose-built train.

In Britain, ‘Lord’ George Sanger toured a circus in the late 1800s that travelled in horse-drawn wagons, rather less glamorous than Barnum’s train.

Barnum and Bailey sold the circus - and their famous names - to Ringling Brothers in 1907.

Michael Crawford in Barnum 1981

We’re thrilled to welcome you to the Circus Fantasia Big Top, transformed for just seven performances into the world of Mr P T Barnum. The Greatest Show lives on!

‘The noblest art is that of making others ha ppy’ P T Barnum

MUSI C AL

NUM B ERS

E N O T C A Overture

There Is A Sucker Born Ev’ry Minute Thank God I’m Old The Colours Of My Life One Brick At A Time Museum Song I Like Your Style Bigger Isn’t Better Love Makes Such Fools Of Us Out There

Barnum Joice Heth Charity and Barnum Charity and Full Company Barnum Charity and Barnum Tom Thumb Jenny Lind Barnum

AC T T W O Come Follow The Band

Barnum, Ringmaster & Full Company

Love Makes Such Fools Of Us All (Reprise) Black And White

Jenny Lind Blues Singers, Charity, Barnum & Full Company

The Colours of My Life (Reprise) The Prince of Humbug Join The Circus Finale

Charity and Barnum Barnum Barnum, Bailey and Full Company Full Company

PRINCIPAL CAST P T Barnum Peter Ling Charity Barnum Harriet Bacon Jenny Lind Cara Dessaur Joice Heth Lucy Mellamphy Tom Thumb Connor Nainthy Ringmaster/Bailey Chris Evans

ENSEMBLE Sophie Allen Abigail Blades Jemma Clapson Josie Cousins Mia Dessaur Mia Fisk Amelia Gentile Katie Hanson Liberty Harmon Bailey Barker Kaylia Burgess Emilia Dalliday Maya Dalliday Alisha Dedman Lara Gledhill

James Harman Olivia Hunt Chloe Kirk Ruby Mann Laurel Meyer Imogen Scott

Oscar Scott Chloe Walker Megan Ward Abigail Warner Sienna Webb

Aerial artists on silks and double trapeze: Kizzy and Tilly Packham, Circus Fantasia Around the Big Top: Juggler Danny Centner, The Rivelinos (Clowns from Spain), Jerry the Clown Haze, flashing lights and gun shots are used during the performance The performance lasts about 2h 20mins with an interval

The Co-op Juniors Theatre Company is grateful for the support and encouragement of East of England Co-op

Haydn Ingram Emily Leech Grace Rowland Lizzie Tyte Chloe Ward Courtney Yule

All the excitement and magi Juggling has been part of Barnum director Oliver Brett’s life for the last four months. Directing, designing, choreographing and working with a large production team meant that he had a lot of balls in the air.

“Barnum is a challenge in so many ways,” Oliver says. “It’s a huge story with larger than life characters. It’s set in the 1800s in the USA, so the design has to take account of that historical context. And of course, there are more circus skills than you can juggle into one show!”

Alan remembers his first meeting with Matthew Wingate, director of Circus Fantasia, and Roy Parris.

“They were so enthusiastic, right from the start, about being involved. Since then we’ve worked with the circus, some of their performers and their Big Top team to develop how we present Barnum at Wherstead Park.

East of England Co-op have been fantastically supportive of Barnum. Says Alan, “People told us it was even crazier than staging Starlight Express in an aircraft hangar at Bentwaters Parks two years ago.

But we’re not afraid of bold ideas!”

Oliver recalls visiting Circus Fantasia in London earlier this year. “We all noticed an elephant’s head harness on the wall behind Matthew Wingate’s desk. It’s from Ringling Brothers circus in the USA, a real piece of Barnum history, and gave us a sense of the legacy of circus.”

Building the Big Top for Barnum Because the New Wolsey Theatre is currently swarming with builders, the Co-op Juniors Theatre Company had to find a new home for Barnum this summer.

Says Matthew: “Being part of a musical production with the Co-op Juniors is a fascinating break from our weekly tour schedule. We’ve worked with the Barnum team on circus skills for the cast and the way everything is presented in the Big Top. It’s great to see how circus and musical theatre work together so well.”

Oliver explains, “Our technical director, Alan Ayres, went to see Circus Fantasia when they were in Ipswich last October.

He told us he’d found a great venue for Barnum. We were all excited when he said it’s a real circus Big Top!”

Pictured above left Kizzy and Tilly Packham performing on the double trapeze Pictured left Kizzy Packham spinning on the aerial silks Aerial photos by Mike Kwasniak

The huge Circus Fantasia Big Top rises from the ground on four king poles, secured by 128 steel stakes and 74 side poles. It moves almost every Sunday as the circus tours the south-east.

magic of performing under a real Big Top...

Cy Coleman’s music is a huge element of the show, as musical director Jo King says during a break in rehearsal. “The vocals, particularly the harmonies, are quite complex. We’ve given the cast more time to work through every number in detail. It’s made more difficult as they have to perform circus tricks on stage or, in one number, toss bricks at each other!”

Peter Ling trains on the wire with Domingo and Nayara from Circus Fantasia He acts, sings, dances, juggles - and walks a tightrope. Playing the legendary Barnum has required a leap of faith for Peter Ling. “There’s a lot to think about, more than in a regular musical, for all the cast,” he says. “We were lucky to have the support of circus professional Ed Meredith to train us.”

Wire walking was one of the most difficult skills to master, so Peter worked with Domingo Morales and Nayara Carrillo from Circus Fantasia to build his technique and confidence. “It’s still the most stressful moment in the show for me. Who wants to fall off in front of an audience!”

Peter Ling (Barnum) with high wire trainers Domingo Morales and Nayara Carrillo from Circus Fantasia: “It was tough, but great to learn technique from professional circus artists!” said Peter.

Sisters Kizzy and Tilly Packham, from Gorleston near Yarmouth, are the professional aerial artists who provide another wow factor in Barnum. Working high above the circus ring, they literally have each other’s lives in their hands as they swirl and tumble on aerial silks or the double trapeze.

They work out their act together, developing a synchronised gymnastic display of such strength and control it has the audience gasping.

Kizzy and Tilly Packham take a break from the trapeze

Explains Kizzy, “We have to stay focused, you can’t lose concentration because what we do can be dangerous.

Tilly agrees: “Even though we do our acts every day, we have to be very aware of what we’re doing so that it’s safe.”

The cast learn new circus skills during rehearsals that are meticulously choreographed into their performance

BARNUM PRODUCTION TEAM Director & Choreographer Set Designer, Puppet Design & Construction, Scenic Artist Oliver Brett Musical Director Jo King Technical Director

Alan Ayres

Lighting Design & Operator Callum Macdonald Sound Design & Operator Shaun Emmerson Costume Supervision Jeannie Ingram, Cilla Tricker Stage Manager Rob Kirk Scenery Construction Richard Hazelwood, Andy Dessaur Props & Set Dressing Alison Allen Makeup Designer Curtis Cook Circus skills consultants Ed Meredith, Domingo Morales, Nayara Carrillo

ORCHESTRA Piano 1 Jo King Piano 2 Sue Double Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone Cliff Wybrow Trumpet John Jermy Trombone, Tuba David Cole Banjo, Bass Guitar Kevin Butcher Drums & Percussion Gerry Gillings

For The Co-op Juniors Theatre Company Management Committee: Stephen Skrypec (Chair), Alan Ayres, Jeannie Ingram (Resident Director), Rob Kirk, Paul Lofts, Pauline Walker (Resident Director).

Trustees: Jos Leeder (Chair), Marilyn Buckles, Thomas Haigh, Marie Hockley, Mary-Kate Ingram, Lizzie Tyte, Steve Warner, Chris Willett.

For East of England Co-op: Chris Matthews, Steve Shaw Company Chaperones & Licensing Janet Butcher, Christine Goad Stage Crew Richard Hazelwood, Steve Warner & Circus Fantasia crew Radio Microphones Ron Bloomfield, Maria Gordon, Angela Hodder, Kerry Sayer Show Caller Christine Goad Production Electrician/Rigger Julian Smith Sound consultant Jake Moore Costume Cutters Karen Clapson, Teresa Rowland Dressers/Chaperones Karen Clapson, Sarah Dedman, Nicci Dedman-Munro, Rachel Fisk, Hannah Gentile, Katy Harman, Helen Kirk, Claire Leech, Jo Nainthy, Claire Ward, Caroline Warner Makeup Artists Taylor, Mia Dedman-Munro, Charlene Jessica Bennett, Anouska Hadley, Amanda Langley, Louise Yule Front of House Patsy Bugg, Sylvia Finbow, Brett, Sheila Pearl Bird, Susie Gaffer, Colin Pickess, Shirley Saunders, Barry Saunders, Steve Thomas, Margaret Thomas, Cilla Tricker Programme Design Calvin Brett Production Photographer Mike Kwasniak Programme Photography Alan Ayres Website Chris Willett

FOR CIRCUS FANTASIA Managing Director Matthew Wingate Manager Anya Stefanyuk Assistant Manager Daniel Wingate Tent Master Paul Raymer Publicity & PR Roy Parris Selected costumes, rifle and sword supplied by Thespis Theatrical Costumiers Ltd, Thelveton Norfolk Brass instrument props supplied by Chris Mason at Bulldog Vintage

The cast and production team are grateful to the Circus Fantasia production crew for looking after us in the Big Top, to Nikki Syers (Wherstead Park Events) and East of England Co-op directors, management and staff for hosting Barnum, and for the help of parents and others to make this production possible

The Co-op Juniors Theatre Company presents

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