So here’s a quick run-down of the best Les Mis songs, according to the Official London Theatre Team!

Kayley – Do You Hear The People Sing

A rousing song, which can’t you can’t help but get swept along with. The thing that the Les Mis songs do best is their incredible emotion, and you really feel the fight of the people in this song. Plus, the video of 70 West End stars singing Do You Hear The People Sing during lockdown will never fail to send shivers down my spine.

Tony – Master Of The House

Adding a comedic tone to the catalogue of Les Mis songs, Master Of The House brings some much needed comic relief to the first half of Les Miserables. Usually rife with cockney/ french accents, this capering tune always hits.

Kitty – On My Own

If you need a good cry – or just some solidarity if you’re suffering a broken heart – this is your tune. In my opinion, the saddest of the Les Mis songs, On My Own is Eponine’s big moment. Watching talented West End actresses belt this one out will never cease to amaze me.

Milly – I Dreamed A Dream

Sobbing – need I say more?

Yasmin – Bring Him Home

Another one to add to the list, Bring Him Home is another one of those Les Mis songs to tug on your heart strings. Check out this amazing video where former cast members of Les Mis, including Alistair Brammer, Alfie Boe, John Owen-Jones, David Shannon, Ramin Karimloo, Rob Houchen and Fra Fee all perform with the Barricade Boys.

Erin – One Day More

Considered by many as one of the best musical theatre songs ever, One Day More is the crescendo of act 1, bringing all the cast members together in a rousing number that leaves audiences hungry for more in act 2. From Eponine to Javert, every character gets their moment to shine, and somehow the cast manage to sing their own sections at the same time while still totally in tune. Despite the characters’ different perspectives, the moment when everyone sings together and stand united is a guaranteed goosebumps moment.

You can watch more Les Mis songs on our YouTube channel, complete with show trailers, performances from lockdown and of course, West End LIVE. You can even complete a Les Mis’ Vocal Warm-up with West End Musical Director, Steve Moss!

And of course, the best Les Mis songs are the live Les Mis songs, so head over to our Les Misérables listing page and get booking now!

It was a big week for long time favourites Les Misérables, Mary Poppins and The Phantom of the Opera, which all extended their runs to October 2022. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child went even further and is now accepting bookings up to February 2023. Moulin Rouge! The Musical, which opened in late 2021 and has received five Olivier nominations including Best New Musical, has also extended booking to October.

Life of Pi has also extended its run at the Wyndham’s Theatre to September. The show has been nominated for an incredible nine Olivier Awards, including Best New Play, Hiran Abeysekera for Best Actor and Max Webster for Best Director. The seven actors who play the tiger (Fred Davies, Daisy Franks, Romina Hytten, Tom Larkin, Habib Nasib Nader, Tom Stacey and Scarlet Wilderink) have also been nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. This makes Olivier Awards history, as it’s the first time puppet performers have been nominated in an Olivier Awards acting category.

In other big news, the smash-hit romp Choir of Man has announced its return in October. The show enjoyed international success before making its West End debut at the Arts Theatre. Due to phenomenal demand, the show will return from October 2022 to February 2023 and booking is now open. It’s a party. It’s a concert. It’s the best lock-in you’ve ever been to. Book your tickets now.

Jon Robyns, Gerard Carey, Josefina Gabrielle and Jordan Shaw will all stay on in their roles, and joining the company from 27 September will be David Thaxton as Javert, Ava Brennan as Fantine, Robert Tripolino as Marius, Nathania Ong as Éponine and Lulu-Mae Pears as Cosette.

The company also includes Hazel Baldwin, Brad Barnley, Emma Barr, Cameron Burt, Natalie Chua, Matthew Dale, Matt Dempsey, Bryony Duncan, Louis Emmanuel, Sophie-May Feek,  Natalie Green, Melad Hamidi, Harry Jack,  Christopher Jacobsen, Benjamin Karran, Yazmin King, Bart Lambert, Sarah Lark, Georgie Lovatt, Ellie Ann Lowe, Adam Robert Lewis, Donald Craig Manuel, Jodie Nolan, Sam Peggs, Jo Stephenson, Phoebe Williams and Ollie Wray.

David Thaxton returns to Les Misérables, having previously played both Javert and Enjolras at the Queen’s Theatre. His other West End credits include Kevin T/Garth in Come From Away at the Phoenix, The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Raoul in Love Never Dies at The Adelphi Theatre, Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Giorgio in Passion at the Donmar Warehouse, for which he won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

Ava Brennan’s West End theatre credits include Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre, Alline Bullock in Tina – The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre and Mrs Crachit in A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic. She has also appeared in Netflix’s Top Boy and her film credits include Hellboy, Rocketman, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and Beauty and the Beast.

Robert Tripolino’s theatre credits include The Man in Whistle Down The Wind at The Watermill Theatre, Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar and Sal Russo in RAGS at Manchester Hope Mill Theatre. In Australia he has appeared as Jamie in The Last Five Years, Roger in Rent, Chino in West Side Story, Jean-Michel in La Cage Aux Folles, and Jamie in Third World Blues.

Nathania Ong, who most recently played Éponine in the UK and Ireland Tour, now joins the London production in the same role. She graduated from Mountview in 2021 and went on to make her professional debut in Be More Chill at the Shaftesbury Theatre that same year.

Les Misérables marks Lulu-Mae’s West End debut. She has recently been seen as Graziella in West Side Story at the Ljubljana Festival in Slovenia.

River Deep, Mountain High – Tina – The Tina Musical

What better way to kick off our list than with a Tina Turner classic? Perfectly suited to the musical stage, the Tina Turner Musical setlist is packed with wall-to-wall, swinging melodies. Our favourite? The sensational River Deep, Mountain High. Featured in Glee and part of the Royal Variety Performance in 2018, this classic will make you want to get off your seat and sing more than any other song on our list. Have a sing along with the previous cast members of Tina – The Tina Turner Musical as they perform the song at the Olivier Awards 2019 with Mastercard in the video above- it’s truly showstopping!

And You Don’t Even Know It – Everybody’s Talking About Jamie 

If you haven’t seen Everybody’s Talking About Jamie we’re guessing you’ve probably been living under a rock for the last few years. First performed in 2017, ‘And You Don’t Even Know It’ is the stand out song of this totally unique and inspirational musical. With the line ‘I’m a superstar and you don’t even know it’, Jamie speaks for all those kids with dreams of becoming a superstar.

Defying Gravity – Wicked

We’ll be honest, there’s way too many incredible Wicked songs to pick just one. But this time, we’ll go for the Act One closer ‘Defying Gravity’. A back and forth between Elphaba and Glinda, the classic song is one of the many high points of Wicked: The Musical. Throughout the song, each witch begs the other to change their course, with the tune ending with both characters parting ways and the citizens of Oz joining in with the chorus. If you haven’t belted this one out while making breakfast – you’re missing out.

I Believe – The Book of Mormon

A stirring ballad if ever there was one, ‘I Believe’ from the hit musical The Book of Mormon is the perfect example of why musicals are amazing. In this classic song, the Mormon missionary sings to convince himself to commit to his religion and carry out his duties. Written by the creators of South Park, it’s no surprise that the whole song and musical is sprinkled with hilarious lines. Our favourite? ‘A warlord who shoots people in the face, what’s so scary about that?’ Keep an eye out on dates for The Book of Mormon in London in 2021.

You Will Be Found – Dear Evan Hansen

If a tear isn’t falling down your cheek to ‘You Will Be Found’ from the musical Dear Evan Hansen, you’ve got a heart of stone. As the final song of Act One, ‘You Will Be Found’ tracks the growth of Evan’s viral speech online. If you’ve ever felt as if you haven’t fit into your workplace or school, this beautiful song is one of many in Dear Evan Hansen that will give you inspiration by the bucketload. There’s no doubt that this emotional ballad has already made its way into the Musical Hall of Fame.

Do You Hear the People Sing? – Les Misérables

Could we end our list with anything else? ‘Do You Hear the People Sing?’ is as rousing a song as you could find in any musical. Sung at the climax of the masterpiece Les Miserables musical, ‘Do You Hear the People Sing?’ perfectly condenses all that the story stands for into one incredible song.

So, there you have it – our top six favourite musical performances! If you’re as big a fan of musicals as us, make sure to check the Official London Theatre listings and snap up your tickets for 2021 before it’s too late.

From 20 May, Les Misérables will be returning back where it belongs – at the heart of the West End with Les Misérables – The Staged Concert.

Playing at the Sondheim Theatre (previously known as the Queen’s Theatre), this spectacular production will feature an all-star principle cast including: Jon Robyns as Jean Valjean, Bradley Jaden as Javert, Lucie Jones as Fantine, Gerard Carey as Thénardier, Josefina Gabrielle as Madame Thénardier, Shan Ako as Éponine, Harry Apps as Marius, Jamie Muscato as Enjolras, Charlie Burn as Cosette and at certain performances Dean Chisnall will play the role of Jean Valjean.

This iconic staging of the legendary Les Misérables concert was previously seen in London at the Royal Albert Hall and the O2 Arena. In 2019, it had a sell-out season at the Gielgud Theatre and has since continued to garner excitement amongst theatregoers. 

Based on Victor Hugo’s immortal novel, the international award-winning musical is set during the revolution and tells a story of passion, fear, hope and love. It features a number of legendary songs including I Dreamed A Dream, One Day More, Do You Hear The People Sing?, On My Own and the one and only guaranteed tear-jerker, Bring Him Home.

Written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, with music by Schönberg and lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular production has a Company of over 50 actors and musicians drawn from the acclaimed West End and National Tour Companies of Les Misérables.

And for those of you eager to know more about the critically acclaimed full production, you’ll be pleased to know that it will be reopening at the Sondheim Theatre from 25 September.

Check out the new video below to go behind the scenes of the productions latest photoshoot for an exclusive look at the brand new cast members.

There’s no better way to celebrate shows returning #BackOnStagethan this iconic production so be sure to grab your tickets now.

Performances are set to return for the spectacular production of Les Misérables -The Staged Concert at the Sondheim Theatre on 20 May 2021, booking until 5 September 2021.

The principal cast are Jon Robyns as Jean Valjean, Bradley Jaden as Javert, Lucie Jones as Fantine, Gerard Carey as Thénardier, Josefina Gabrielle as Madame Thénardier, Shan Ako as Éponine, Harry Apps as Marius, Jamie Muscato as Enjolras, Charlie Burn as Cosette and at certain performances Dean Chisnall will play the role of Jean Valjean.

The company also includes Kelly Agbowu, Joseph Anthony, Will Barratt, Cameron Blakely, Earl Carpenter, Richard Carson, Danny Colligan, Rodney Earl Clarke, Matthew Dale, Matt Dempsey, Harry Dunnett, Nic Greenshields, Jessie Hart, Holly-Anne Hull, Jenna Innes, Ebony Jonelle, Connor Jones, Jessica Joslin, Luke McCall, Leo Miles, Corinne Priest, Aaron Pryce-Lewis, Grainne Renihan, Helen Walsh, Emma Warren and Samuel Wyn-Morris.

Cameron Mackintosh said: “Les Misérables has been the star attraction of London’s Shaftesbury Avenue for over 35 years, so we are delighted to once again be the first big musical to reopen in the West End after over 14 months of closure. The spectacular Staged Concert was presciently put together, unknowingly socially distanced, over two years ago at the Gielgud Theatre. Every performance has been a sell out and this time, our wonderful Company drawn from the current stars of both the new acclaimed West End and National touring companies of Les Mis, which will both reopen in the autumn, will ensure that the world’s most loved musical will raise the roof of the theatre once more and help the restaurants, bars, hotels and shops bring our great city back to life. Let the People Sing with joy again!”

Deafinitely Theatre to showcase work of bursary receipients in addition to second round of bursaries for deaf or hard of hearing theatre freelancers

Deafinitely Theatre today announce they will be showcasing the work of deaf and hard of hearing theatre freelancers that were awarded a bursary in February 2021, via their website – beginning today in celebration of UK Deaf Awareness Week 2021, Coming Through It Together. Earlier this year the recipients were awarded £1000 and provided with networking and keeping-in-touch sessions, and have been working on a wide-ranging collection of projects and career development initiatives in the past months. In addition, Deafinitely Theatre today opens applications for a further six bursaries, open to any deaf or hard of hearing theatre practitioners and performers aged 18 and over at any stage of their career.

Artistic Director Paula Garfield said, “As our industry begins to emerge from lockdown, I am so pleased that, thanks to a second Arts Council Cultural Recovery Fund grant, Deafinitely Theatre can offer a further six bursaries to support deaf freelance theatre practitioners to develop their practice as we build back to live performance. We are very excited to share the brilliant work of the first round of Bursary recipients on our website throughout May and can’t wait to see the work that our future recipients are able to develop with this funding.”

The recipients of the first round of bursaries were Stephanie Back, Rinkoo Barpaga, Duffy, Katie Erich, Richard France, Fifi Garfield, Ben Glover, Alim Jayda, Sahera Kahan, Ace Mahbaz, Harri Marshall, Zoë McWhinney, Colly Metcalfe, Chisato Minamimura, Julian Peedle-Calloo, Jamie Rea, Mary-Jayne Russell de Clifford, Rebecca Saffir, Deepa Shastri and Otis Waby.

The first four recipients to be profiled on www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk are:

• Stephanie Back – Stephanie has used her bursary for the research and development of a her show Fow, a tri-lingual theatre show in Welsh, BSL and English, and to further her skills in translation, presenting work online and reaching deaf audiences.
• Alim Jayda – this bursary is enabling Alim to create a new digital platform, Released Voices, which will present a series of stories and experiences from underrepresented deaf voices and minorities.
• Richard France – the bursary has enabled Richard to explore how dance can develop through sensory feeling and sonic sounds, working with a dancer and SUBPAC technology to explore an area that he hasn’t worked on before, and open up opportunities to work with contemporary dancers on a new project.
• Deepa Shastri – Deepa’s bursary has given her the opportunity to develop her knowledge of casting and producing (roles with very little deaf representation) through research, meetings and training and to build a plan for her professional development, including the advocacy of opportunities for deaf theatre artists and makers.

Supported by the Arts Council Culture Recovery Fund, the bursaries are open to deaf and hard of hearing theatre practitioners and performers aged 18 and over at any stage of their career. Applicants must be self-employed, not in full-time education, live in the United Kingdom and have a UK bank account.

You can apply for the second round of bursaries now. To apply please visit www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk for further information. The deadline is Monday 31 May 2021.

New poster for Amélie The Musical

Ahead of it’s arrival in the West End at the Criterion Theatre on 20 May, we’ve been treated to this fantastic new poster featuring Olivier-nominee Audrey Brisson (Pinocchio (National Theatre) The Grinning Man (Bristol Old Vic)), who will return to the role of ‘Amélie’ in this production.

Today (10 March 2021) it is officially announced that the show will resume performances for a new season on 20 May 2021, booking to 5 September 2021.  Patrons whose bookings were affected by the Government’s previous directives will be contacted from today, followed by booking for Priority members from 10am on Friday 12 March and public booking opening at 10am on 15 March 2021.

Cameron Mackintosh said: “As the West End marks the first anniversary of the enforced closure of British Theatre due to the pandemic, I am delighted to announce that the acclaimed spectacular staged concert of Les Misérables, which previously sold out all performances on Shaftesbury Avenue, will return to the Sondheim Theatre on 20 May 2021 with a reduced capacity and necessary social distancing requirements.  The cast drawn from the West End and National Tour Companies will be headed by Jon Robyns as Jean Valjean, Bradley Jaden as Javert, Lucie Jones as Fantine, Shan Ako as Eponine and Harry Apps as Marius. Gerard Carey and Josefina Gabrielle will play the Thenardiers.  During the run other celebrated Jean Valjeans will be playing guest performances alongside Jon Robyns. The Staged Concert will play until 5 September 2021 only, when the theatre will close for three weeks in order to re-mount the full production of Les Misérables which opened just over a year ago to rave reviews.  The National Tour of Les Misérables will also resume performances in November at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow starring Dean Chisnall, Nic Greenshields and Katie Hall.”

Public excitement for Les Misérables -The Staged Concert, which originally had a sell-out season at the Gielgud in August 2019, has been exceptional.  Due to extraordinary public demand the last run of the show in December 2020 sold out within twenty-four hours and was extended twice as a result.  Sadly, after the Government’s updated Covid-19 restrictions the show had to be suspended after only 10 performances.

This spectacular production has a Company of over 50 actors and musicians drawn from the acclaimed West End and National Tour Companies of Les Misérables and will initially play to a 50% seating capacity with strict Covid safety measures in place.  Social distancing will be followed front of house, on stage, backstage and throughout the building.   The Theatre will move to full capacity as soon as the Government allows for it.

The principal cast includes Jon Robyns as Jean Valjean, Bradley Jaden as Javert, Lucie Jones as Fantine, Shan Ako as Éponine, Harry Apps as Marius, Gerard Carey as Thénardier and Josefina Gabrielle as Madame Thénardier.  Further casting will be announced shortly.

Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Les Misérables is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg and is based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel with additional material by James Fenton and adaptation by Trevor Nunn and John Caird.  The Staged Concert is directed by James Powell and Jean-Pierre Van Der Spuy and conducted by Alfonso Casado Trigo.

The critically acclaimed new full production of Les Misérables which opened in January 2020 is planned to re-open at the Sondheim Theatre on 25 September 2021 as long as the Government has withdrawn social distancing allowing full capacity audiences and has made a contingency insurance available for the theatre and music industries in the event of any more sudden unscheduled closures.  All plans for the re-openings are in accordance with the Government’s latest directives and therefore subject to change.

Equally, our Theatreland favourites are sometimes lucky, sometimes unlucky in love, so we thought we’d help a few of them out with their dating profiles.

So take a little swipe right through these lot!

Les Misérables -The Staged Concert broke box office records and sold out its entire 16 week season when it ran last year at the Gielgud Theatre. Its all-star cast, led by Michael Ball as Javert, Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean*, Carrie Hope Fletcher as Fantine and Matt Lucas as Thénardier will return alongside a company of over 50 actors and musicians.

Cameron Mackintosh says, “the beautiful new Sondheim Theatre will re-open its doors so audiences can once again leap to their feet thrilled by Victor Hugo’s timelessly uplifting story of the survival of the human spirit told through Boublil and Schönberg amazing iconic score – Let The People Sing.  Happy Christmas to us all.”

Covid safety measures and social distancing will be in place front of house, on stage, backstage and throughout the building.

Tickets on sale 14 October. 

*Please note that at certain performances John Owen-Jones will play the role of Jean Valjean.

All proceeds from downloads of the single on iTunes will go to Help Musicians, an independent UK charity for professional musicians of all genres, from starting out through to retirement. It provides the extra support they need at a crucial stage that could make or break their career.

Having trained at some of the world’s leading conservatoires, the four sopranos – Georgi Mottram, Wendy Carr, Jasmine Faulkner and Sarah Vaughan – are known for their stunning re-worked operatic arias, chart-topping hits and musical theatre favourites. Their unique talents have taken their mesmerising show across the continent from the West End to headlining the Australian performing arts festival, NOOSA alive!

Originally created and performed for a fundraising concert at Leicester Haymarket, Stars will now be shared widely for the first time with each singer recording their part of the video individually during lockdown from their homes in Aberdeenshire, Jersey and London. The video was then produced in-house with musical arrangements by Wendy Carr. It features performances from the girls alongside beautiful photographs of much-loved theatre venues and concert halls where musicians would normally be performing. These images were kindly provided by The Theatres Trust, a national charity that campaigns to protect theatre buildings for current and future generations.

Georgi Mottram said: “Everyone is feeling the impact of Coronavirus in some way, including musicians. Communities all over the UK have come together to raise money for the NHS and charities. Their generosity is humbling and it inspired us to give something back. With our live performances postponed for the foreseeable future, including shows at Kings Theatre Portsmouth, Aynhoe Park, Buckingham Palace and further afield in Japan and Australia, we felt moved to use our voices for good. We hope that by releasing Stars in aid of Help Musicians we can not only lift spirits but also raise funds for the charity’s invaluable work.”

Check out the video below and download the beautiful single from iTunes here. Each download could make a huge difference to musicians through times of crisis, but also at times of opportunity and Ida are so thankful for your support.

What’s more, if you’re still struggling to get your mum the present she really deserves this Mother’s Day, why not treat her to some super cute Theatre Tokens? Theatre Tokens can be used at more than 260 venues across the country and have no expiry date. Support the theatre industry while bagging mum a great gift – it’s a win-win!

Donna Sheridan – Mamma Mia!

Liv – Communications Manager:

“For me, Donna is the ultimate fun mum. She’s impulsive, adventurous and has a great sense of humour – not to mention she really made the most of her youth! She’s also independent and entrepreneurial, making her an amazing role model for her daughter Sophie, who she brought up alone. Her long-lasting friendships with Tanya and Rosie prove she’s fiercely loyal, plus a supportive fellow girl band member (go, Donna and the Dynamos!). Finally, Donna is a doting mother to Sophie (who didn’t shed a tear at Slipping Through My Fingers?), who she teaches to be just as headstrong as her.”

Elizabeth Schuyler – Hamilton

Tony – Marketing Coordinator:

“Elizabeth Schuyler has to be the most impressive mum on the West End right now. Not only did she raise seven children of her own, often while her husband was away fighting wars and winning rap battles as we see in the show, she also adopted a daughter. Adopting inspired her to co-found New York’s first private orphanage, to help children without parents, which is still active today.”

Fantine – Les Misérables

Erin – Marketing & Communications Administrator:

“Fantine stands out to me as an outstanding theatre mum because of her resolute dedication to bettering the life of her daughter Cosette. By making the ultimate act of self-sacrifice for her child, she gifts Cosette the life she dreamed of for herself. She’s also very strong-willed and isn’t afraid to stand up for herself and what she believes in.”

Nurse – & Juliet

Jess – Social Media Manager:

“Nurse in & Juliet is more of a mum to Juliet than her actual mum ever is. She looks out for Juliet as a person rather than just her prospects or future, and treads the line carefully between encouraging her independence and keeping her safe. But, as we all know, mums and mum figures need a day off too, and Nurse isn’t afraid to have her own fun and pursue her own dreams too!” It’s your last chance to book before the show closes on 25 March.

Miss Honey – Matilda The Musical

Kitty – Content Coordinator:

“For me, Miss Honey is the West End’s best mum. She believes in Matilda to such an extent that she puts aside her own fears to stand up for her. She nurtures and encourages Matilda far more than her parents, assuring her that she is special and that her extraordinary intelligence is nothing to be ashamed of – the total opposite of what Matilda is used to hearing! Her love for Matilda, as well as her capability as a teacher, is even more admirable in the knowledge that she hasn’t experienced much love herself.”

Sarabi – Disney’s The Lion King

Yasmin – Content Administrator:

“Although Sarabi doesn’t feature too heavily in the show, she is still my favourite West End mum. Her resolve in the face of her husband’s death and son’s disappearance deserves far more credit than it gets! She is an amazing role model for the remainder of the pride, who she continues to lead with dignity and grace – despite the awful circumstances they must endure. She also stands up to the dictatorial Scar, insisting that the pride must leave their beloved Pride Rock (which of course she doesn’t want to) if they are to survive. All in all, a pretty gritty lioness!”

Rob’s Mum – My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?)

Richard – Senior Commercial Manager:

“Rob’s Mum – along with their Dad and Grandparents – shows just what a supportive, encouraging mother can do for a child’s creativity. She embraced Rob’s Disney parades, puppet shows and recreations of Mary Poppins which in turn has led to this heart-warming, joyous play about the celebration of raising a queer child.”

Hermione Granger – Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Megan – Senior Marketing Manager:

“Hermione carries herself with a decisive, strong and kind manner. Her and Ron are the ideal parenting duo! She always manages to problem solve and keep the peace, given the weird and wonderful action that goes on in the Wizarding World. You’ve got to see the show yourself and experience the magic.”

Each year, West End behemoths go head to head to compete in a thespian-infused Eurovision. It’s full of glitter, joy and stagey stars. Today, the line-up has been announced and it’s as glitzy as one could wish for.

The shows taking part in this year’s competition are Come From Away, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Les Miserables, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, The Phantom Of The Opera, The Prince Of Egypt, and Wicked.

Each show will perform an original Eurovision Song Contest entry of their choice. That’s right. They have 85 years and all of Europe’s entries to choose from. The winner will be chosen by text votes from the theatre audience and a panel of celebrity judges.

So far, Tom Allen (Bake Off Extra Slice) and Adam Garcia (Tap Dogs) have been announced as judges with more being announced closer to the date.

This year’s contest marks the variety show’s 10th anniversary and with new kids in town, Mary Poppins and The Prince Of Egypt, it’s anyone’s competition.

The show takes place at the Adelphi Theatre on Sunda 19 April at 7.15pm. To get tickets, click here.

Tickets for The Pillowman now on sale

On Friday, it was announced that Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Steve Pemberton will star in the upcoming production of the iconic and acclaimed play The Pillowman. The production brings together Oscar and Olivier Award-winning writer Martin McDonagh and director Matthew Dunster once again. The pair’s last West End production was the audience and critical favourite Hangmen, making this upcoming staging even more exciting.

Today, tickets to the run which opens in July have gone on sale so get yours while you can.

The winners of the WhatsOnStage Awards announced

Last night, London theatre’s A-list was out in full for the 20th annual WhatsOnStage Awards. The ceremony took place at the Prince Of Wales Theatre and was hosted by Jodie Prenger and Tom Read Wilson.

Leading the pack with the most wins – a whopping six from a grand total of 13 nominations – was &Juliet which included a win for Miriam-Teak Lee who took home the Best Actress In A Musical award.

However, it was Come From Away who took home the most coveted award of the night – Best New Musical – along with all the other awards it was nominated for which included the Best Supporting Actress In A Musical award which went to Rachel Tucker.

Other winners included Andrew Scott for Best Actor In A Play, Claire Foy for Best Actress In A Play, Sophie Thompson for Best Supporting Actress In A Play, Sam Tutty and Jack Loxton for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor In A Musical respectively for their roles in Dear Evan Hansen, and Six which won the inaugural BBC2 Radio Audience Award for Best Musical. Jamie Lloyd, Hammed Animashaun, Life Of Pi, Mary Poppins, The Colour Purple, and Falsettos all saw wins also.

The Equity Award for Services to Theatre was presented to ERA 50:50 – Equal Representation for Actresses. Maureen Beattie, President of Equity, presented the award to Denis Gough.

Congratulations to all that won! You can see them in the gallery below.

Jacqueline Wilson’s Hetty Feather to be screened in cinemas across the UK

Missing a production is always a kick in the teeth – especially when it’s earned mass critical acclaim. So it’s always music to our ears when a second opportunity arises thanks to cinema screenings.

Today it has been announced that a recording of Jacqueline Wilson’s Hetty Feather will be available for your viewing pleasure from 15 April.

Filmed live at Nuffield Southampton Theatres, and produced by BroadwayHD, the premiere streaming service for live theatre, the full cast includes Matt Costain (Jem/Matron Bottomly), Sarah Goddard (Peg/Ida), Mark Kane (Gideon), Isaac Stanmore (Saul), Phoebe Thomas (Hetty Feather) and Nikki Warwick (Madame Adeline). Having premièred at Rose Theatre in Kingston the production enjoyed a sell-out run at the Vaudeville Theatre in 2014, followed by a run at Duke of York’s Theatre and UK tour in 2015.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s much-anticipated new musical will begin previews on 28 August this year at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. Tickets don’t go on sale ’til 20 March, but with Carrie at the helm we’re even more certain than ever that they’ll absolutely fly off the shelves.

In case you’ve missed Carrie’s comet-like rise in the London theatre world, here’s a quick recap! Starting as a child actor on TV and in the West End, Carrie has the rare accolade of playing Éponine in Les Mis as both a child and an adult!

Since her early breakout, Carrie has appeared in musicals all around the UK and the West End including The War Of The Worlds, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Addams Family. Most recently, she took the leading role in Heathers: The Musical, and has now found her way back to Les Mis, where she’s currently playing Fantine in the newly staged production at the Sondheim Theatre.

Carrie’s won 3 WhatsOnStage Awards, but acting isn’t her only talent. She’s written children’s fiction, has a huge social media following and YouTube channel, and sings and writes her own music – sometimes with her brother, Tom Fletcher, who you might remember from McFly!

This new musical production of the classic fairytale promises to completely reinvent the story you know and love. It’s based on an original idea from Emerald Fennel, the Emmy Award-nominated scriptwriter of Killing Eve. Lyrics are by the award-winning David Zippel, who wrote for City Of Angels and The Goodbye Girl on stage as well as the classic Disney films Hercules and Mulan!

Cinderella will be directed by Laurence Connor and choreography will be by JoAnn Hunter, who worked on School Of Rock and the Palladium’s Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

Andrew Lloyd Webber said:

‘I’m absolutely thrilled that Carrie will be our Cinderella at the Gillian Lynne Theatre this Autumn.  She has totally wowed my fellow writers and creative team and was a big success at the sing through of the show late last year.

I am hugely confident that she will make this new take on Cinderella very much her own, and I’m looking forward to working and recording with her as soon as possible.’

We can’t wait!!

A massive Carrie fan? Did you know she did A Day In The Life for us all the way back in 2015 when she was Éponine? Check it out below!

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s highly-anticipated Cinderella will be coming to London, stepping into the shoes of the hit musical at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in September this year. Before the opening, the venue will undergo a seat upgrade and further refurbishments.

The brand-new show is a complete reinvention of the classic fairytale based on an original idea from the Emmy Award-nominated writer of Killing Eve, Emerald Fennell.

After gallantly stepping into the role of Thénardier in the new production of Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre, Matt Lucas has sadly had to take his final bow after sustaining a back injury. He took the role after Gerard Carey was unable to perform due to a vocal injury caused by contracting pneumonia.

But the show must go on and Ian Hughes will slip into the role from today (Friday 10 January) until the end of February when Gerard Carey is expected to return to the role as originally announced. Ian recently starred in the current sell-out UK and International tour of Les Mis so the role is in very good hands.

Star power is the name of the game for Hello, Dolly! which today announced that Andy Nyman and Jenna Russell will be joining the legendary Imelda Staunton in the upcoming production at the Adelphi Theatre.

Andy Nyman – who will play Horace Vandergelder – recently starred in the critically acclaimed Fiddler On The Roof. He also penned the West End fave Ghost Stories and won an Olivier Award in 2006 for Something Wicked This Way Comes.

Olivier Award-winner Jenna Russell will play Irene Molloy. Jenna’s prolific career includes the sold-out Fun Home at the Young Vic, Merrily We Go Along, and her award-winning performance in Sunday In The Park With George at the Menier Chocolate Factory (a performance she later reprised on Broadway).

New year, new cast for last year’s Best New Musical Olivier-winner Come From Away who has announced its 2020 line-up which features the beloved Alice Fearn known for playing Elphaba in Wicked.

From Monday 10 February 2020, the joyous show which tells the story of 7,000 passengers stranded in Newfoundland after the 9/11 attacks will star: Tarinn Callender (Bob and others), James Doherty (Claude and others), Alice Fearn (Beverley/Annette and others) Kate Graham (Diane and others), and Alasdair Harvey (Nick/Doug and others), with Ricardo Castro, Stuart Hickey, Sorelle Marsh, Micha Richardson and Matthew Whennell-Clark.

They join Jenna Boyd (Beulah and others), Mary Doherty (Bonnie and others), Mark Dugdale (taking over the roles of Kevin T/Garth and others), Jonathan Andrew Hume (Kevin J/Ali and others), Harry Morrison (Oz and others), Emma Salvo (Janice and others), Cat Simmons (Hannah and others) and Chiara Baronti, Alexander McMorran and Jennifer Tierney.

Alice Fearn will be replacing Rachel Tucker who also found fame while playing Elphaba on the West End. 

Dear Diary, today the winner of The Curtain Up Show‘s Best Cast Recordings 2019 was revealed. The winner? Heathers The Musical! 

With 25,000 public votes, 2019’s best London, Broadway and Solo recordings were decided. Taking home the West End win was the stage adaptation of the 1980s cult film which featured starlet Carrie Hope Fletcher and Jamie Muscato. The announcement comes just months ahead of Heathers’ UK tour which kicks off in May.

Moulin Rouge! took the title for Best Broadway and John Owen-Jones’ sixth studio album, Spotlight, scooped Best Solo Album.

The Broadway win bodes well for the upcoming production of the film-to-stage show Moulin Rouge which is set to open at Piccadilly Theatre next year. Oh, la, la!

On 22 January, Thriller Live will be turning 11. To celebrate its birthday, the Michael Jackson tribute show will be hosting its first-ever singalong performance.

For one night only, audience members will be invited to join the cast in chorus as they perform the MJ and Jackson Five classics. Sadly, you won’t be invited to moonwalk onto the stage but fans will have the freedom to hum, sing or yell along to their favourite hits without their seat neighbour clearing their throat, elbowing them or calling an usher for assistance.

A spokesperson said: “MJ wrote some of the most iconic songs of the 20th century and they mean so much to fans of Thriller Live who have celebrated them at over 4,000 West End performances to date. For many, the temptation to join in with the show’s catchy hits including ‘I Want You Back’, ‘ABC’, ‘Rock With You’ ‘Can You Feel It’, ‘PYT’, ‘Beat It’, ‘Smooth Criminal’, ‘Man In The Mirror’, ‘Billie Jean’, ‘Thriller’,‘Bad’ and ‘Black or White’ can be almost unbearable. Our Singalong night will be a celebration of that and a chance for our energetic, passionate audiences to be a step closer to our talented cast. This unique performance promises to be a night at the theatre, a party and a rock concert all in one!”

The best news is, they’re not stopping there! On 18 December an acclaimed new production hailed as “Les Mis for the 21st Century” opened at the newly refurbished Sondheim Theatre (formally the Queen’s Theatre). With incredible new staging and a magnificent score, we are certain this timeless tale will continue to take the world by storm. 

To celebrate the opening of the new production, we are taking a look back at the cast members who have played the powerful leading role of Éponine over the years to see where they are now.

Frances Ruffelle

It’s only fair that we start with Frances Ruffelle, the first ever actress to be cast in the role of Éponine Thénardier. The English music theatre actress joined the original London cast from 1985, and though largely unknown outside of the West End, was invited to reprise the role for the Broadway launch. After its huge success, she went onto win the 1987 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Since then, she’s returned to the West End for the role she originated and has appeared in several other stage roles including Yonah in the West End production of Children of Eden, playing alongside Ian Dury in Apples at The Royal Court Theatre, Queenie in The Wild Party and Roxie Hart in Chicago at London’s Adelphi Theatre.

In addition to her stage career, the Les Mis fan-favourite also has a number of film credits to her name, including a cameo appearance in Tom Hooper’s Oscar-winning big-screen version of Les Misérables (2012) where she was one of only two original West End cast members invited to take part. And her talent doesn’t stop there! Alongside playing Dorien Green’s vicar daughter in ITV comedy Birds Of A Feather, her multi-faceted career also includes a performance on the Grammy Award winning Les Misérables cast album(s), five solo albums, and a series of 5-star sellout UK and US live performances!  Having most recently hosted her first L.A performance of Frances Ruffelle LIVE(s) in New York, the multi-talented star is showing no signs of stopping.

Caroline Sheen

After being cast as Éponine in Les Misérables at the Palace Theatre from 2001 – 2002, Welsh actress and singer Caroline Sheen went on to play numerous leading West End roles, including Sandy in Grease at the Victoria Palace Theatre, Susan Walker in Once In A Lifetime and Disney’s Mary Poppins in the UK tour. She reprised this role on the National Tour of America where she performed alongside her cousin Michael Sheen and for which she won the Helen Hayes award for Outstanding Leading Actress! A decade after starring as Éponine, the West End star returned to the London production, but in a very different role as Fantine. After leaving to have a baby, she went on to land her first major movie role in the smash-hit musical Les Misérables where she played a factory worker alongside her husband Michael, who played the factory foreman.

Besides her stage presence, Caroline has also appeared on screen including the movies Four Kids And It and Nativity Rocks, as well as TV roles in the BBC’s Hotel Babylon, Doctors and Torchwood. She is most recently known for playing the leading role of Violet Newstead in the West End premiere of 9 to 5 The Musical at the Savoy Theatre where she is currently starring until 11 January 2020 alongside David Hasselhoff (until 8 February 2020). She originally covered for Louise Redknapp after an injury forced her to temporarily withdraw from Dolly Parton’s musical earlier in the run. After Redknapp was forced to withdraw from the show following a wrist injury, Caroline assumed the role, and has received great praise to date. Having covered so much, who knows what role this Welsh beauty will step into next?

Alexia Khadime

English actress and mezzo-soprano Alexia Khadime took the iconic role of Éponine in June 2011. Though she played the role for just short of a year, she went on to join the original West End company of The Book Of Mormon, playing the role of sweet Nabulungi. In 2014 she won the fan-voted WhatsOnStage Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for this role, as well as the West End Wilma award for Best Supporting Cast Member. Following The Book Of Mormon, she continued to shine as Princess Tahlia in Sleeping Beauty at Hackney Empire and Rita Marley in One Love: Bob Marley The Musical at Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

In addition to playing four of the biggest female leads in musical theatre (Nala in The Lion King, Elphaba in Wicked, Éponine in Les Misérables and, most recently, Nabulungi in The Book Of Mormon), Alexia is the only black woman to play the role of Elphaba full-time in any production of Wicked around the world!

We can’t wait for 2020 to roll around so we can see her smash it in the role of Miriam in the all-new musical, The Prince Of Egypt, playing at the Dominion Theatre from 5 February – 12 September 2020.  

Samantha Barks

In addition to playing the role of Éponine in the West End production from 2010 – 2011, actress and singer, Samantha Barks was chosen to play the same role in the 25th Anniversary concert of Les Mis at the 02 Arena by Cameron Mackintosh. Furthermore, the stage star beat Taylor Swift in the race when she was offered a debut role in the Hollywood film adaption, alongside Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe. Mackintosh himself surprised Barks on stage during a curtain call with an offer she couldn’t refuse! Her widely acclaimed performance received several nominations and won her the Empire Award for Best Female Newcomer and shared the National Board of Review Award for Best Cast. Her rendition of On My Own from Les Misérables reached number 97 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 43 in the UK, being her first entry on each chart.

Alongside her stage career, Barks also has assumed a music career, including releasing a single debut, performing On My Own at the Classical Brits at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011 and taking part in the television special Andrew Lloyd Webber: 40 Musicals Years for ITV. Other leading stage roles include Velma Kelly in the 2013 production of Chicago at the Hollywood Bowl and Vivian in the stage musical, Pretty Woman, marking her Broadway debut. More recently, it was announced that she will be playing the role of Elsa in the West End production of Frozen which will be transferring to the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in October 2020. We can’t wait to see her melt hearts!

Carrie Hope Fletcher

When Carrie Hope Fletcher made her stage debut as Young Éponine in 2001, she was just 9 years old. Since then, she has played numerous West End roles including Jemima Potts in the original casting of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium and Jane Banks in Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre. She later returned to the West End production to play Éponine from 2013 – 2016 when she received the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Take Over in Role, and featured in the 30th Anniversary Gala.

Fletcher is also an award-winning author having written with four novels and one biography to date. Her first book, All I Know Now: Wonderings And Reflections On Growing Up Gracefully is based on her blog of the same name and was a number one Sunday Times bestseller. All the while, she continued to sparkle on the stage too including the role of Emily in A Christmas Carol, Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family and Veronica Sawyer in the rocking smash-hit show, Heathers: The Musical, for which she was awarded the West End Wilma Award for Best Performer In An Off-West End Show 2018 and the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actress in a Musical 2019. More recently, it was announced that Carrie will be returning to the stage from 18 December in the all-star brand-new production of Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre, but this time headlining in the role of Fantine, ready to sweep audiences away once again!

Lucas, who is known best for his leading roles in Little Britain and Come Fly With Me, will return to the part on Monday 23 December for six weeks. He will be stepping in for Gerard Carey who was told on the morning of his first performance, that he would be unable to perform during this period in order to rest his vocal chords and avoid long-term damage to his voice. However, fans of Carey will be pleased to know that he is expected to return to the role on Monday 2 February 2020.

Cameron Mackintosh said: “Just as I was thanking the gods of the theatre for getting the spectacularly rebuilt Sondheim Theatre open on schedule with our brilliant new cast and production, we heard that our irrepressible Thénardier, Gerard Carey, would not be allowed to perform for several weeks due to a serious problem with his vocal chords. Though obviously a disappointment for him and all of us, I’m thrilled to announce that Matt Lucas has volunteered to abandon his Christmas plans and rejoin Les Mis as Master of the House after his recent triumph in the Staged Concert at the Gielgud Theatre. He will play alongside Josefina Gabrielle as Madame Thénardier while Gerard recovers and returns to the company in February.”

The multi-award winning comedian, screenwriter, actor and singer, Matt Lucas, recently reprised the role of Thénardier at the sold-out Les Misérables Staged Concert at the Gielgud Theatre as well as the critically-acclaimed West End production Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre (then the Queen’s Theatre) and the show’s 25^th Anniversary Concert at the O2 Arena.  

Besides starring in Les Miserables, Lucas’ other theatre credits include Taboo at the Leicester Square Theatre and the touring production of Little Britain Live.

If you’d like to see the legend on stage in this epic show, snap up your tickets now!

We caught a first look at Circus 1903 following its opening night at the Royal Festival Hall. Running until 5 January, this heart-stopping, jaw-dropping spectacle is welcoming The Wheel Of Death for the first time. Complete with a ginormous rotating apparatus featuring large metal hoops at each end, performers Carlos Mayorga Macias, Jerson Alexander Valencia Garcia and Ray Freddy Valencia Bocanegra will carry out eye-popping acrobatic skills whilst the wheel is rotating.

Other exciting new acts include the daring duo aerial act, The Flying Fredonis, performed by Russian artists Dasha Shelest and Vadym Pankevych, Cuban hand balancer, The Great Rokardy (Rokardy Rodriguez) and the furious flexible feats of Russian Rolling Ball Hula Hoopist, Mademoiselle Natalia (Natalia Leontieva).

With contortionists, acrobats, jugglers, trapeze and high wire performers – and much, much more – Circus 1903 will transport people of all ages to the mesmerising Golden Age of circus, making it the perfect treat for a family outing!

Magic legends, Penn & Teller (Groan Ups, The Play That Goes Wrong) have used their wand once again to conjure up the tricks for Mischief Theatre’s brand new West End comedy, Magic Goes Wrong.

We take a glimpse at the spellbindingly disastrous comedy that promises to make you howl with laughter.

Images for the King’s Head Theatre’s revival of Kevin Elyot’s Coming Clean have been released today! 

Directed by Adam Spreadbury-Maher, Coming Clean looks at the breakdown of a gay couple’s relationship and examines complex questions of fidelity and love. Starring in the show at Trafalgar Studios 2 from 8 January will be Lee Knight as Tony, Elliot Hadley as William/Jurgen, Stanton Plummer-Cambridge as Greg and Jonah Rzeskiewicz as Robert.

Following its acclaimed 35th anniversary production last year, Coming Clean is returning to the intimate venue and promises to be an elegiac, rewarding and gripping show to see. Grab you Coming Clean tickets below!

It was announced today that Emilia Clarke will make her West End debut in 2020 in Anya Reiss’ adaption of Chekov’s The Seagull. Following on from their critically-acclaimed production of Cyrano de Begerac, The Jamie Lloyd Company’s second show will play at the Playhouse Theatre in association with British Airways from 19 March until 30 May. Read more about it below!

Brand new glittery production images have been released from Sandi and Jenifer Toksvig’s Christmas At The (Snow) Globe playing at the Shakespeare’s Globe until 23 December.

When someone steals the magic of Christmas from Snowdrop, the magical fairy who watches over during the winter months, Toksvig and her merry gang require your help to bring it back to the Globe.

Audiences will sing their hearts out to classic Christmas songs with the incredible Fourth Choir and make paper chains to decorate the theatre, all while restoring some festive cheer back into the Globe! So put on your Christmas jumper, and head on down for the most heartwarming family-friendly Christmas show.

As part of the longstanding partnership between Dear Evan Hansen and Microsoft Store, the West End cast of the Tony Award-winning musical recently visited the flagship store on Oxford Circus to host a special performance for the community. The event took place to help celebrate the first offering of the Creating Connections with Dear Evan Hansen workshop which is aimed at turning the same technology that can lead to isolation – a key theme of Dear Evan Hansen – into a force for positive connection.

Running every Sunday at 2.30pm, the free two-hour workshops focus on educating and empowering teens to build more meaningful connections in their everyday lives.

So, who’s going to asking if you can hear the people sing? And will you be joining them on their crusade?

Fantine – Carrie Hope Fletcher and Rachelle Ann Go

Carrie Hope Fletcher is currently playing Fantine in the staged concert version of Les Misérables, and she’ll be reprising the role when the show transfers back to the Sondheim. No stranger to the show, Carrie has performed in over 900 Les Misérables shows in the role of Eponine. Initially cast at the adorable age of nine as Young Eponine,  when Carrie grew up, so did Eponine, and Carrie went onto perform the older Eponine in the show. A huge accomplishment, Carrie is currently the only British actor to have performed both young and older Eponine in Les Misérables, and if that wasn’t enough, Carrie is the longest-running Eponine in the London production’s 30-year history.

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But Carrie won’t be the only Fantine, as Rachelle Ann Go will be playing the role for seven weeks in the Spring, before taking over the role permanently next summer. A role she has played before, Rachelle is currently playing Eliza Hamilton in Hamilton, a role she has played since the show opened in London. Rachelle also played Gigi in Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Miss Saigon in 2014, a role she reprised when the show opened on Broadway in 2017.

Carrie Hope Fletcher will play Fantine from 18 December 2019 until 29 February 2020 and then again from 20 April 2020 until 25 July 2020. Rachelle Ann Go will play the role from 2 March 2020 until 18 April 2020 and then again from 27 July 2020.

Jean Valjean – Jon Robyns

Playing the iconic prisoner 24601 is Jon Robyns. You may recognise Jon from his current stint in the hit musical Hamilton, where he’s playing the royally hilarious role of King George. A familiar face on the West End, Jon also originated the roles of Princeton and Rod in the London production of Avenue Q. But Jon is also a familiar face to the barricades, as he’s previously played both Marius and Enjolras in Les Misérables and taken part in huge anniversary tours.

Javert – Bradley Jaden

Returning to play the hunting Javert is Bradley Jaden. Bradley had been playing this very role when the show took a temporary break and moved next door. But he’s remained a cast member of the crusades and is currently playing the role of Enjolras in the staged concert production. As well as taking part in anniversary productions of Les Misérables, Bradley has also trodden the West End stages in hit shows like Wicked (where he played Fiyero) and Shrek The Musical.

Eponine – Shan Ako

Shan is currently playing Eponine in the staged concert version of the show, and its a role she’ll get to keep playing when the show transfers back to its previous home. A recent graduate from the Brit School, the staged concert of Les Misérables was her West End debut.

Cosette – Lily Kerhoas

Just like Shan, Lily has been performing the role of Cosette in the staged concert production and will keep this role when the show transfers. Also like Shan, Lily made her West End debut in the show this year.

Thénardier – Gerard Carey

The role of mischevious landlord Thénardier, will be played by Gerard Carey. Gerard originated the role of Robertson Ay in Mary Poppins and played James Walsingham and the Photographer in Half A Sixpence, both at Chichester Festival Theatre and the Noël Coward Theatre. His other credits include A Christmas Carol for the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Jungle at the Playhouse Theatre, Master Class at the Vaudeville Theatre and the national tour of Shrek The Musical.

Madame Thénardier – Josefina Gabrielle

The long-suffering wife Madame Thénardier will be played by Josefina Gabrielle. Josefina was most recently seen as Velma Kelly in Chicago at the Phoenix Theatre. Her many other West End credits include Olivier nominated performances in Sweet Charity, Merrily We Roll Along and as Laurey in Oklahoma! She has also played Roxie in Chicago at the Adelphi theatre, Irene Molloy in Hello Dolly! at Regent’s Park and Mrs Teavee in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Enjolras – Ashley Gilmour

Ashley recently played the lead role of Chris in the International tour of Miss Saigon. He also appeared in the West End production at the Prince Edward Theatre. His other theatre credits include Link Larkin in the national tour of Hairspray.

They will be joined by Kelly Agbowu, Ciarán Bowling, Richard Carson, Rodney Earl Clarke, Matthew Dale, Matt Dempsey, Harry Dunnett, Jessie Hart, Jessica Joslin, Sarah Lark, Georgie Lovatt, Ellie Ann Lowe, Luke McCall, Leo Miles, Claire O’Leary, Shane O’Riordan, Kathy Peacock, Sam Peggs, Mark Pearce, Emma Warren, Sake Wijers, Mared Williams and Samuel Wyn-Morris.

Cameron Mackintosh said,

“As Les Mis enters its 35^th year in London, I am thrilled that we have found a brilliant and exciting cast to open my new production at the Sondheim theatre , many of whom were not even born when the show first opened!…It is a testament to Víctor Hugo’s timeless masterpiece and Boublil & Schönberg’s brilliant musical adaptation that Les Misérables continues to attract such stellar talent to the world’s longest-running musical.”

The show has temporarily been performing a staged concert version next door at the Gielgud Theatre, while the Sondheim Theatre went under some major renovation and refurbishments. 

Les Misérables will return to the Sondheim Theatre from 18 December. Tickets are available now.

A slightly different production to the one previously at The Sondheim Theatre (formerly Queen’s Theatre), this limited run will be a fully-staged concert version, with over 65 musicians playing in the accompanying orchestra.

So, who are these returning stars in their multitudes? And what’s their history with Les Misérables?

Carrie Hope Fletcher

One of the lovely ladies returning to Les Misérables is Carrie Hope Fletcher.

Les Misérables was Carrie’s West End debut, as she played the adorable role of Young Eponine at the sweet age of nine in 2001. Fast forward twelve years, and Carrie went on to play this same role once again, but this time she was all grown up, and so was Eponine. Carrie is currently the only British actor to have performed both young and older Eponine in Les Misérables.

She’s also performed the role in the musical’s 30th Anniversary gala performance, and globally in Dubai. In fact, Carrie is the longest-running Eponine in the London production’s 30-year history, performing in 959 shows!

But you won’t be hearing her sing “On My Own” this time round, as Carrie will be playing the role of Fantine in the upcoming version.

We’re already dreaming a dream about seeing Carrie perform once again in this iconic show!

Michael Ball

Not only did Michael Ball also make his West End debut in Les Misérables back in 1985, but he also originated the role of Marius Pontmercy in the show. Performing in the Les Misérables world premiere, Michael is an original cast member of this incredibly iconic show. As well as performing at the Barbican for the show’s first-ever performance, Michael also took to the stage at the Palace Theatre during the West End transfer.

Michael has also performed on three Les Misérables cast albums as Marius, including the Original London Cast album, the Complete Symphonic Recording and the 10th Anniversary concert edition.

Now 34 years later, after making an incredibly big impact in the original production (apparently it was quite a hectic scene at the stage door!), Michael is back, but this time he’s also taking up a new character, on the other side of the revolution, playing Javert.

Alfie Boe

Returning to reprise his previous role of Jean Valjean, Alfie Boe appeared in Les Misérables in 2011, the same year that Matt Lucas joined the show.

But before treading the West End boards as prisoner 24601, Alfie had previously performed the role in the concert edition for the 25th-anniversary celebrations. He was then cast full-time in 2011 in the full production. Alfie has also been chased by Javert in the Broadway revival in 2015, taking over from Ramin Karimloo.

As well as having a long history with Les Misérables, Alfie is also connected to Michael Ball, who is playing his arch-rival in this new production. Alfie and Michael have toured together, recorded three albums together, released three singles as a pair and sang together many times on stage too. Basically, this show is a bit of a reunion for Alfie and Michael!

Matt Lucas

If anyone encompasses the song, I Dreamed A Dream, it’s Matt Lucas. A huge musical fan during his childhood, Matt dreamed of being on that famous revolving stage since the moment he first saw it at the age of 13.

And his dream came true, when he was asked to perform the role of Thénardier, the wicked innkeeper, at the Les Misérables 25^th anniversary celebration. The only cast member who’d never appeared in a stage production of the show, Matt’s journey was documented by the BBC. And he clearly impressed the audience and the producers, as he went onto perform the same role the following year for three months.

Just like Michael, Matt has also dueted with Alfie Boe on one of his many albums.

Rob Houchen

One of Carrie’s co-stars during her last run in Les Mis was Rob Houchen. And just like Carrie, he’s back, reprising his role of Marius for the staged concert. As well as holding up the barricades of the Queen’s Theatre, Rob has also performed in the show on a global scale, taking part in the Les Miserables 30th Anniversary show in Japan.

Bradley Jaden

A very recent performer in the show, Bradley was playing the lead role of Javert when the final curtain came down on the previous production only a few weeks ago. And now he’s already back, this time playing Enjolras. No stranger to that particular character, before his time on the West End barricades, Bradley had played the role of Enjolras in the 30th Anniversary production.

Katy Secombe

Also reprising her previous role in the new production, Katy Secombe will play Madame Thenardier. Katy has performed in the iconic musical both on stage and on screen, as she landed the part of Madame Huchloup in the 2012 Academy award-winning film adaptation of the show.

Katy Secombe has played the role of Madame Thénardier for three productions of the show, including the 30th Anniversary Cast production.

John Owen-Jones

For three performances a week, the role of Jean Valjean will be played by John Owen-Jones. Just like his fellow cast members, John has also performed in Les Misérables many times before.

He first played Jean Valjean at just 26 years old, making him the youngest person to ever play this difficult role. John had previously understudied Jean Valjean, and had also performed the roles of the Factory Foreman, Feuilly, Grantaire and Enjolras before taking over the role full-time. He even performed within the choir of the 10th Anniversary Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in 1995.

John returned to play Jean in 2005 for two years (with a few months off to be in another show…busy bee!). As well as playing Jean Valjean for London audiences, John has taken the role over the pond, performing in American productions. The last time John performed in Les Misérables was in 2009, as part of the 25th Anniversary International tour. Welcome back John!

Adam Bayjou

Playing the role of Montparnasse in this production, Adam has previously performed as the Factory Foreman, as well as being the first cover Jean Valjean in Les Miserables. As well as a strong resume filled with both West End and Broadway shows, Adam also performs around the world in several groups, including VOXX – The West End Tenors, The 12 Tenors and The Opera Boys.

And that’s not even all the cast who’ve previously been in other productions of Les Misérables. Here’s a full list of the other performers in the show who aren’t stepping onto the barricades for the first time:

• • Rosanna Bates (Factory Worker) made her professional debut as Fantine.

• • Ciaran Bowling (Swing) has also been a Les Mis swing.

• • Simon Bowman (Bishop of Digne) has played Marius and Jean Valjean in the West End and performed in the Les Misérables Concert.

• • Oliver Brenin (Swing / Dance Captain) has also been a Swing / Dance Captain in the show.

• • Earl Carpenter (Bamatabois) has performed as Javert in the Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Production. He’s also co-produced five symphonic presentations of Les Misérables in Concert.

• • Vinny Coyle (Feuilly) has previously been a Swing, a Cover Grantaire and a Factory Foreman.

• • Samantha Dorsey (Whore) has previously played Cosette.

• • Tamsin Dowsett (Locket Crone) has played Crone/Cover Madame Thenardier

• • Nicola Espallardo (Factory Worker) appeared in the ensemble in the West End.

• • Celia Graham (Factory Girl) has played Cosette and performed in the 25th Anniversary concert.

• • Barnaby Hughes (Courfeyrac) has performed the role of Combeferre in the West End.

• • Holly-Anne Hull (Whore) has been in the ensemble and as cover Cosette in both the international tour and in the West End.

• • Oliver Jackson (Claquesous) has appeared in the West End production.

• • Christopher Jacobsen (Warnings) has appeared as Enjolras and Alternate Jean Valjean, and was 1st Cover Jean Valjean in the 25th Anniversary international tour.

• • Gavin James (Factory Foreman) has performed over 1000 times in the West End production as the Bishop of Digne/ Combeferre, has sung the concert in various locations and at the Olivier Awards, performed in the 25th birthday celebrations and provided vocals for the film.

• • Ciaran Joyce (Joly) has performed many roles in the show, including cover Marius and cover Grantaire in the international tour, Gavroche and Montparnasse in the West End.

• • Katie Kerr (Madame) was in the recent production.

• • Sarah Lark (Assistant Dance Captain / Swing) is reprising her role from the recent West End production.

• • Joanna Loxton (Assistant Dance Captain / Swing) is reprising her role, and has also been on the UK tour and taken part in the 25th-anniversary concert.

• • Craig Mather (Combeferre) has performed in the West End production.

• • Stephen Matthews (Babet) has performed in the Palace production, in the film adaptation and at the 10th-anniversary concert.

• • James Nicholson (Jean Prouvaire) performed in the latest production.

• • Rosa O’Reilly (Whore) has been understudy Eponine in both the international tour and Barbican production, took part in the 25th-anniversary concert and appeared in the film.

• • Claire Parrish  (Swing) has been in the West End in the ensemble.

• • Sophie Reeves (Whore) was first cover Fantine in 2016.

• • Leo Roberts (Brujon) has performed as Javert and The Bishop of Digne in the West End.

• • Raymond Walsh (Grantaire) has been in the West End production.

• • Gemma Wardle (Factory Worker) played Eponine in the West End at just 17 years old. She also performed at both the 10th and 25th-anniversary concerts,  and even played Eponine at a private performance for the Queen.

• • Andrew York (Lesgles) is reprising his role from the latest West End production.

Possibly our favourite story is about Grainne Renihan who in this concert plays Hair Crone. Her time playing Fantine made her the longest holder of that role in the show’s West End history. She is returning to the show alongside her son Ciarán Bowling, who she was pregnant with whilst playing Fantine in the 1996 cast, AND her sister Lizzy was in the show with her in the early 90s. A proper family affair!

You can see this star-studded cast in Les Misérables: The Staged Concert at the Gielgud Theatre until 30 November.

The Sondheim Theatre will reopen on 18 December with the acclaimed New Production of Les Misérables.

The renaming honours the seminal composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who celebrates his 90th birthday next March. Sondheim will become the very first living artist to have a theatre named in his honour both in the West End and on Broadway (the former Henry Miller’s Theatre was renamed in his honour in 2010).

Sondheim’s seminal catalogue of hits includes Company (recently revived in Marianne Elliott’s Olivier Award-winning production), Sweeney Todd, Sunday In The Park With George (returning to the West End next year with Jake Gyllenhaal), Into The Woods and A Little Night Music. He also wrote the lyrics for shows including West Side Story, Gypsy and Do I Hear The Waltz?. The Queen’s Theatre also hosted his show, Passion, in 1996, in a production starring Maria Friedman and Michael Ball.

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Announcing the renaming, Cameron Mackintosh said: “I have been lucky enough to have been a friend and colleague of Steve’s since our first collaboration in 1976 on the musical revue Side By Side By Sondheim at the Wyndham’s Theatre. After 112 years Shaftesbury Avenue will have a theatre named after a living legend and house the world’s longest running musical, the legendary Les Misérables, as it enters its phenomenal 35th year…

“Sondheim’s work will undoubtedly be performed as long as audiences want to see live theatre, so I feel honoured that he has agreed to have his name on one of my Shaftesbury Avenue theatres to salute his upcoming 90th birthday. Over the decades his work has become increasingly appreciated and performed by all, both as part of the popular theatre and classical repertoires and in spaces that range from a pie shop to the Royal Opera House….

“For the past 25 years I have tried to build a studio theatre in central London named after Sondheim, but it wasn’t to be. I felt this major refurbishment of a building that has housed his brilliant work was the perfect moment to put his name “on some marquee all twinkling lights – a spark to pierce the dark”. Stephen Sondheim has always been that spark to all of us. Even as an eight-year-old boy dreaming about becoming a producer I could never have dreamt a dream like this or be happier.”

Sondheim himself added: “I am chuffed, as you say in British English, to a degree I wouldn’t have imagined. Or as we say in American English, it’s awesome.”

The Queen’s Theatre in its current form originally opened on 8 October 1907, suffering significant bomb damage in 1940 to its boxes, loges and front of house. It subsequently reopened almost 20 years later, in July 1959, with John Gielgud’s Shakespearean recital Ages Of Man.

The venue will close for renovations on 13 July for renovations which will restore the venue to its pre-war glory. Les Misérables will move next door to the Gielgud Theatre for a spectacular staging of the show in concert from 10 August, before an acclaimed new production reopens the Sondheim Theatre on 18 December.

So why not witness the Sondheim Theatre in all its glory? You can book your tickets for the new Les Misérables production at the glamorously restored venue today.

From the classic pop and the traditional numbers to ballads Enya would envy, we’ll be hearing all sorts of songs from the 26 competing countries. Which has got us thinking, which West End songs would we enter into the contest? Here are our picks for musical numbers that should be entered into Eurovision – you know, should anyone ever need the suggestions.

Classic pop – Mamma Mia from Mamma Mia!

We thought we’d start with the obvious seeing as ABBA won Eurovision back in 1974 with Waterloo. Now, we’ve chosen Mamma Mia as our entry but really, any song from Mamma Mia! is a potential candidate as the songs written by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus are the epitome of the contest.

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Rocking it out – When I Climb To The Top Of Rock Mountain from School Of Rock

If School Of Rock entered Eurovision, it won’t just be Rock Mountain they’ll be climbing – it’ll be the points table, too. Because really, how can a group dressed in school uniforms with an extremely energetic lead singer bouncing around the stage while a kid grinds his axe in the corner not be awarded 12 points?

The ballad – I Dreamed A Dream from Les Mis

It’s the ultimate musical ballad and it would send chills around the whole of Europe if it were performed in the competition. Grab your hankies and get ready to hear the universal story of lost love. Just imagine a dark stage with a smoke machine working overtime…

The get-on-your-feet number – Conga from On Your Feet!

Every Eurovision needs a party song that’ll make you and your friends get up off that sofa to dance around your living room after a few too many glasses of wine. And what better song than one that’s literally about dancing? The conga, no less! The classic 80s song has everything to make it a Eurovision winner and a fan favourite.

Sticking to tradition – Welcome To The Rock from Come From Away

Okay, so we may have to do away with a bit of the narration but Welcome To The Rock’s folksy style and traditional instruments makes it a shoo-in for the competition. And seeing as Come From Away has already won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical, we’re pretty confident this number will fair well.

The swing-those-hips number – Work Of Art from Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

A catchy number that you can start singing along to on first listen? How this hasn’t already been entered into the competition, we have no idea! And just imagine the costumes they’d use! There’d be sequins for days and it’d take years to get the glitter out of the floor.

The up-tempo comedy number – House Of Holbein from Six

What is Eurovision without a bit of German rave and some air horns? It would be the song that everyone would be talking about on Twitter and if it didn’t actually win, it would have the public vote for most memorable performance of the night.