Hear the people sing! Les Mis returns … one more time!
It’s one of the world’s favourite musicals and now Les Miserables The Arena Spectacular is a new production of this classic for a mass audience.
It’s an iconic musical that’s been staged here numerous times, but now more people than ever before can enjoy its rousing scores when Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular comes to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in June for seven performances.
The London production of Les Misérables, self-described as the world’s longest-running musical, is in its 40th record-breaking year as it begins its five-week Australian tour. To celebrate this milestone, producer Cameron Mackintosh has put together a spectacular arena production of the musical, which has played to rave reviews and sold-out arenas in the UK and various European cities.
Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular has been created for arena venues by creatives Matt Kinley, Paule Constable, Warren Letton and Finn Ross, with sound by Mick Potter. The Australian tour is a collaboration between Mackintosh, in association with Nick Grace Management and Live Nation Australia.
Award-winning performer and singer-songwriter Shan Ako stars as Éponine in Australia. She won The Stage Debut Award for Best Performer in a Musical for this very role when she starred in the 2020 production of Les Miserables at the Sondheim Theatre, London, and she also played Éponine in a Gielgud Theatre production that was broadcast in cinemas around the world.
Eight Australian children have been cast to star in the Arena Spectacular during the Australian tour. Sharing the role of Gavroche will be Christopher Joseph, Sebastian Sero, Orlando Steiner and William Steiner. Sharing the role of Little Cosette will be Samara Coull-Williams, Violet Massingham, Scarlett Sheludko and Alexandra Szewcow.
Alfie Boe and Killian Donnelly share the role of Jean Valjean, and Michael Ball and Bradley Jaden share the role of Javert, alongside Matt Lucas as Thénardier, Marina Prior as Madame Thénardier, Rachelle Ann Go as Fantine, Jac Yarrow as Marius, Beatrice Penny-Touré as Cosette, James D. Gish as Enjolras, Shan Ako as Éponine and Earl Carpenter as the Bishop of Digne.
Tony Award winner and international recording artist Boe became an overnight star after playing Jean Valjean in the 25th anniversary concert of Les Misérables in London in 2010, which established his reputation as one of Britain’s best leading men. He also had huge success in London and on Broadway, which has made him synonymous with the role, as well as leading The All-Star Concert production at the Gielgud and Sondheim theatres.
Donnelly is one of Britain’s top musical theatre stars having played the roles of Jean Valjean and the Phantom (of The Phantom of the Opera) several times to great acclaim.
Ball has been involved with Les Misérables since he made his West End debut playing Marius in the original London Production in 1985. Jaden is now one of the most celebrated Javerts of his generation, playing the role in the stage production and in concert.
Little Britain star Matt Lucas plays Thénardier. He first triumphed in the role in the 25th anniversary concert in London and later in the production at the Gielgud, before starring in the West End stage production.
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Starring alongside him is Australia’s much-loved Marina Prior as Madame Thénardier. Early in her career Pryor appeared in Mackintosh’s landmark Australian production of Cats in 1985, which was followed by playing Cosette in the original Australian production of Les Misérables, both propelling her meteoric rise to becoming Australian musical theatre royalty – confirmed when she played Christine in the original Phantom of the Opera.
Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s magnificent score of Les Misérables includes the classic songs I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, Stars, Bring Him Home, Do You Hear the People Sing? One Day More, Empty Chairs at Empty Tables and Master of the House. Seen by more than 130 million people worldwide in 54 countries and in 22 languages, Les Misérables is undisputedly one of the world’s most popular musicals.
Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, May 28 to June 1.