BIG SCREENING: The Greatest Showman

Chronicling the rags-to-riches story of the visionary Phineas Taylor Barnum, creator of the world-famous Greatest Show on Earth. P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman) grows up with nothing but his great imagination, and dreams of a show with a diverse range of never-before-seen acts that inspires wonder…

Though P.T. Barnum starts to gain wealth and status with his ‘freak show’, he never quite gets the acceptance that he wants for himself and his family. As his obsession with becoming one of the upper crust grows, against everyone’s advice, he hires an opera singer to appeal to a more high-brow audience. Gambling everything he owns on this venture, and increasingly making compromises, he doesn’t realise that he might end up losing more than just his money…

Hugh Jackman is as ever charismatic, and gives his all in this feel-good musical. Backed up by a strong cast – Michelle Williams (Oz the Great and the Powerful), Zac Efron (High School Musical), Zendaya (Spider-man: Homecoming), and Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible; Girl on the Train), this is one to watch. (And sing along to…)

Gail Marshall