York Light Youth

'Barnum's the name, P.T. Barnum. And I want to tell you that tonight you are going to see - bar none - every sight, wonder and miracle that name stands for'.

Here is the show that traces the career of Phineas Taylor Barnum, America's greatest showman, "The Prince of Humbug" from 1835 to 1881, the year he joined with James A Bailey to form "The Greatest Show on Earth".

Despite the objections of his wife, Chairy, Barnum attempts to create a show in which the main attractions are the freaks of society - the oldest woman alive, Joice Heth, the smallest man in the world, Tom Thumb; he builds his American Museum - and falls for the charms of the glamorous Swedish opera singer, Jenny Lind. Eventually, to appease Chairy, Barnum agrees to give up the show and start a normal life, lived in black & white rather than the colour he craves.

But in the end Barnum returns to the circus business in grand fashion by forming a partnership with James A Bailey - and the start of a circus tradition, which lasts until May 2017, just as York Light Youth started their rehearsals for "Barnum".