A new musical play returns to the Psychic Circus and reunites the cast of ‘The Greatest Show in the Galaxy’.
Tickets please! Back in 1989, Doctor Who’s 25th Anniversary season concluded with ‘The Greatest Show in the Galaxy’. The mystical four-parter, from writer Stephen Wyatt, saw the Seventh Doctor and Ace visit the Psychic Circus and rescue its performers from the entertainment hungry Gods of Ragnarok.
The entertaining tale, which played to Sylvester McCoy’s strengths, also enjoyed a famously eventful production. An asbestos scare forced a big top to be pitched in the BBC Elstree car park to capture the story’s studio scenes.
Now, 35 years on AUK Studios have created a brand-new, original, musical play based on the story. Children of the Circus is written by Kenton Hall (with songs by Christopher Guard) and based on an idea by Barnaby Eaton-Jones.
Children of the Circus
Once upon a time, there was a circus.
A Psychic Circus, to be precise. A glorious haven for the misfits of the universe.
But then, as is so often the way, it was hijacked by a trio of malevolent Gods.
Things grew unpleasant.
Now, years later, the Gods are gone, but the scars of those who survived the Circus remain. After all, you can’t change the past.
Unless you’re the Children of the Circus… and you’re willing to sing.
The new production reunites the television show’s original cast. It stars Christopher Guard as Bellboy, Dee Sadler as Flowerchild and Ella, and Ian Reddington as Delios.
Additionally, there are new roles for the original’s Doctor Who stars. Sophie Aldred plays Captain Gren and AJ, while Sylvester McCoy is the High Poet. Plus, 80’s pop star and actress Toyah Willcox appears as The Band of Infinite Harmony.
The ensemble also includes Daisy Dunlop, Verity White, Kim Jones, Kenton Hall, Barnaby Eaton-Jones and Ian Kubiak.
There play also makes room for special guest appearances from many of the ‘Greatest Show’ television cast. Ricco Ross appears as The Ringmaster, Jessica Martin as Mags, Chris Jury as Deadbeat, Deborah Manship as Morgana, Gian Sammarco as Whizz Kid, Daniel Peacock as Nord, and Dean Hollingsworth as the Bus Conductor and Station Announcer.
Sylvester McCoy said:
“To return to the worlds of Stephen Wyatt’s imagination, but as a wholly new character called the High Poet, means I get to be involved with the Psychic Circus rather than fighting against it! As a lover of the circus myself, juggling this new role was a joy (though I’m sad I didn’t get to play the spoons).
What fun to be reunited with all the wonderful cast from ‘The Greatest Show in the Galaxy’ again, 35 years later, and I hope you’ll all enjoy this time-sliding, sidestepping sequel from Barnaby Eaton-Jones and his bunch of clowns!”
Children of the Circus is released on December 14th, 2023. That’s exactly 35 years to the day since the first episode of ‘The Greatest Show in the Galaxy’ aired.
For full details visit AUK Direct, where the 2 x Limited Edition CD set is available to pre order for £19.99 + P&P.
Stephen Wyatt
AUK Studios are also the producers of Stephen Wyatt’s touching and tragic Me & Him & WHO. The play dramatized the final years of John Nathan-Turner, classic Doctor Who’s colourful final producer.