Former Horsham musical theatre performer Sienna Walsgott has scored a major part in ‘Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular’.

Touring Australia over the next year, the production is inspired by the movie The Greatest Showman, and will feature hit songs ‘This Is Me’, ‘Rewrite the Stars’, and ‘A Million Dreams’.

The lead roles will be performed by musical theatre stars Des Flanagan and Ruby Clark, while Ms Walsgott will play Dusty The Lion-Tamer – one of five feature singers.

Born and raised in Horsham, the daughter of Katie and Peter Walsgott, the 19-year-old has completed full-time training at Showfit Studios in Melbourne before earning her first professional role.

When in Horsham, she appeared in numerous productions with Horsham Arts Council, including roles such as Ella in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Alysha in American Idiot, and Kate in The Pirates of Penzance.

Ms Walsgott graduated from Horsham College in 2024, and played the Evil Queen in the college production Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in her final year.

Many Wimmera residents might also know her for singing the national anthem ahead of many notable occasions, at the Wimmera Music Eisteddfods and at Horsham’s Carols by Candlelight.

Ms Walsgott was also the 2025 winner of the $3000 Richard Morris Memorial scholarship.

Horsham’s Lisa Thomas was Ms Walsgott’s singing teacher for about five years and said it was ‘quite amazing’ for her to secure such a role after a short period of study – some performing arts courses can be up to four years.

“It should suit her very well. She’s a good singer, she works hard, and she’s got a very good work ethic,” she said.

“She’ll learn and absorb and put things into practice and work really hard at improving. 

“She was always a good student and willing to just do things that I might have asked of her or go and volunteer to sing at something – she made use of every opportunity that she was given, and used it as a way to develop and grow.”

Ms Thomas said she was looking forward to seeing Ms Walsgott on the big stage.

“She should be really, really proud and happy and just take the opportunity, learn as much as she can, experience as much as she can from others and just have a great time doing what she loves,” she said.

Ms Walsgott said she was thrilled to be making her professional debut in Come Alive, and thanked her family and friends for their unwavering support. 

Come Alive starts in Sydney in May, then travels to Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane, before finishing in Melbourne in February, 2027.

Debuting in London with rave reviews, Come Alive features several circus performers and dancers.

The show is described as ‘a heart-pounding new live experience featuring jaw-dropping acrobatic artistry and gravity-defying aerial acts for an unforgettable night out’.

Ms Walgott follows in the footsteps of former Horsham performers Alex Rathgeber and Liam Robertson, who forged careers in professional musical theatre.

– Lauren Henry

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