This was my third visit to Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular, and I must say that the experience of arriving will never get old. The first two rooms are still absolutely gorgeous and set you up beautifully for what promises to be a delicious evening of immersion and circus.

Yes, yes, the official Disney musical is hitting town in the not too distant future, but I suspect it will pale significantly in comparison to Come Alive! There are caveats, though.

One noticeable loss this evening was the trampoline troupe in the pre-show. I did catch a single trampolinist, but he didn’t receive the fanfare he deserved. It’s a fantastic space, and it’s sad not to see it used to its full potential.

I also noticed that there is no longer a song in the first pre-show room, while music from the outside world now finds its way into the experience before the main performance. Compared with my previous visits, this somewhat distracts from the wonder of the world you’ve entered.

Previously, the ethereal, dreamlike soundscape, alongside the wonderful array of roaming characters and performances, created an atmosphere of suspense and anticipation. I’m not entirely sure why these changes were made when the experience worked so well.

If I were the creative director, I’d introduce more characters to the pre-show and really have the place buzzing. I’d also make the performances continuous rather than having things stop and start. There’s no reason why the pre-show cast couldn’t perform while audiences wander around the space.

I’d particularly love to see more use made of the corridor containing the bar, fortune teller and countless props. Imagine walking around the perimeter and discovering a different wonder with every lap.

The transition into the main show could also be smoother. After spending an hour immersed in this world, it’s a little clunky to suddenly be ushered into your seats for a more traditional performance. I’d love to see some of the main cast involved just before the show begins, allowing that transition to feel more natural.

I appreciate there are likely practical considerations around health and safety and getting audiences seated on time, but surely the aim should be to preserve the suspension of disbelief as much as possible.

And why not bring the pre-show cast back during the interval? Without them, the space feels surprisingly barren. It seems a shame to create such a wonderful environment only for so much of its life to disappear once the main performance begins.

Of course, these are observations from someone who’s now visited three times. For a first-time visitor, the experience is still something quite special. I’d simply love to see a little more energy and activity throughout.

As for the main show, there is barely any story, and what exists felt even more incoherent tonight than on my previous visits. If the thinnest whisper of wind were to blow through the venue, the story would disappear altogether.

It’s a shame, because I quite like the story they’ve chosen to tell, and I’ve always wished they’d bring it out properly in proceedings. The circus acts are more than capable of standing on their own, but when a narrative is introduced, surely it should serve some purpose? As it stands, the story feels like an afterthought, and some of the acts seem to appear at random rather than forming part of a cohesive production. A tighter narrative would give the evening a greater sense of direction without taking anything away from the spectacle.

The circus performances remain impressive, with the production embracing the chaos of an American circus. There’s activity happening around the auditorium almost constantly, although tonight it occasionally felt a little more messy than exhilarating.

That’s not because the show isn’t tight or anyone is doing anything wrong. There’s simply so much happening that it can become overwhelming. Mind, I was looking for and expecting things that were never coming, which probably didn’t help.

Happily, the sound design has improved, although spoken words are still occasionally lost. This isn’t really the priority of the show, but it’s a welcome improvement.

The vocals were phenomenal, and I was surprised to learn tonight that the music is largely played live. I genuinely hadn’t realised there was a band. I mean, of course there would be at any respectable show, but I didn’t know.

There is also the question of running time. The performance started at 7:30pm and finished just before 9pm, including a twenty-minute interval. It’s a surprisingly short show, and were it not for the immersive elements surrounding the auditorium, this would be unforgivable.

But as a complete package, Come Alive! does tick all the boxes. It’s all the songs you love, in a unique setting, providing an experience you won’t find anywhere else.

I know I’m probably not the target audience, and perhaps I’ve been twice too many for my own good. I’m certainly more conscious of what’s changed or disappeared than someone experiencing it for the first time.

Honestly, though, I’m being picky. If you’ve never been before, you’ll have a wonderful time.

I love this production. Genuinely. There’s a lot of nonsense out there touting itself as immersive and unlike anything you’ll ever experience elsewhere, but Come Alive! really does offer something different.

The world building is what makes it so special. I just wish they’d make a little more of the wonderful world they’ve created.