Barnum in Cambridge: Matt Rawle stars 18–22 August
Barnum will run at The Arts Theatre Cambridge from Tuesday 18 to Saturday 22 August 2026. Evening performances begin at 7.30pm, with 2.30pm matinees on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. The production carries age guidance of 8+.
The Visit Cambridge Events listing does not state ticket prices, booking instructions or transport details, so visitors will need to check those arrangements separately before attending. The confirmed venue is The Arts Theatre Cambridge, 6 St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ.
Matt Rawle steps into Barnum’s shoes
Matt Rawle, whose theatre credits include Cabaret, Evita and Les Misérables, takes centre stage as 19th-century showman P.T. Barnum. The musical follows Barnum’s ambitions and schemes alongside his wife, Charity, as his life and career reach increasingly heady heights.
Director Jonathan O’Boyle leads a production featuring an ensemble of more than 20 actor-musicians, acrobats and circus performers. Choreography is by Oti Mabuse, with Rawle set to follow Barnum onto the tightrope.
The tightrope is more than a passing detail in the production’s history. Barnum previously played at the London Palladium, where Michael Crawford became closely associated with a nightly walk across the stage. The Cambridge production returns that demanding theatrical image to the heart of the show.
The musical has music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Michael Stewart and a book by Mark Bramble. Its familiar numbers include Join the Circus, Colours of My Life, Come Follow the Band and Love Makes Such Fools of Us All. Together with the actor-musician ensemble and circus acts, those songs form the main programme highlights confirmed in the event listing.
Eight performances across five days
The Cambridge run combines five evening performances with three matinees. The two-show days are Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday:
| Date | Performance times |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 18 August | 7.30pm |
| Wednesday 19 August | 2.30pm and 7.30pm |
| Thursday 20 August | 2.30pm and 7.30pm |
| Friday 21 August | 7.30pm |
| Saturday 22 August | 2.30pm and 7.30pm |
Access arrangements for the Cambridge run
The audio-described performance is the 2.30pm matinee on Saturday 22 August. This is the only accessible performance format assigned to a specific show in the Visit Cambridge Events listing.
Listed venue facilities include wheelchair access, a designated wheelchair-accessible public toilet, induction loops, Blue Badge parking and assistance from venue staff. Assistance dogs are welcome, while ear defenders, a bar, cloakroom facilities and Wi-Fi are also listed.
Anyone relying on a particular facility should note the specified performance date when planning. Ticket costs, the booking route and transport guidance are not included in the source listing; the confirmed event information is available from Visit Cambridge Events.
Source: Visit Cambridge Events
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Dates, performance times, cast details, age guidance and accessibility information were matched against the Visit Cambridge Events listing.
- Confirmed the run from 18 to 22 August 2026
- Checked the evening and matinee performance schedule
- Matched the named cast and creative team
- Reviewed the listed accessibility facilities
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- Visit Cambridge Events
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- 2026-08-18 09:29
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