Les Misérables announces new West End cast
Do you hear the people sing?
Cameron Mackintosh have announced new casting for the critically acclaimed new production of Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre from Monday 25th September 2023.
Our very own Lucie Jones will have her final performance on 23rd September.
Les Misérables: New West End cast
Katie Hall as Fantine
Katie Hall returns to the role of Fantine having starred in the recent UK and Ireland tour of Les Misérables. Her numerous theatre credits include the roles of Cosette on tour, at the Queen's Theatre, and in the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables at the O2 Arena, Christine in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre in the West End and on tour, Johanna in Sweeney Todd at the London Coliseum and Maria in the national tour of West Side Story.
Luke Kempner as Thénardier
Luke Kempner is an acclaimed stand-up comic, impressionist and actor widely recognised for his popular sketch videos which have amassed over 10 million views online. His television credits include being a regular host on Channel 4's Steph's Packed Lunch, Love Island Aftersun, Spitting Image, The Last Leg, Big Brother's Bit On The Side, Deep Fake Neighbour Wars, Stand-Up Sketch Show, Murder in Successville, The Imitation Game, and Celebrity Karaoke Club. Luke's many voices are also regularly heard on The Now Show on BBC Radio. No stranger to the musical theatre world, Luke's previous performance credits include the 25th Anniversary tour of Les Misérables, Avenue Q and South Pacific as well as starring in the West End production of Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical and his brand new show Edinburgh Fringe show, Gritty Police Drama: A One-Man Musical which follows success with previous shows including The Only Way Is Downton. Luke
Will Callan as Marius
Will Callan returns to the role of Marius, making his West End debut, having previously starred in the recent UK and Ireland tour of Les Misérables.
Djavan van de Fliert as Enjolras
Djavan van de Fliert can currently be seen in the role of Kristoff in Disney's Frozen at Drury Lane, which marked his West End debut and first professional role, having recently graduated from Arts Ed.
Amena El-Kindy as Éponine
Amena El-Kindy makes her West End debut in Les Misérables, having recently appeared in Robin Hood: The Legend Rewritten at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Her other theatre credits include the 2022 UK tour of Beautiful, The Carole King Musical.
Josh Piterman as Jean Valjean
Josh is an Australian musical theatre performer who made his West End debut as The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera. His other theatre credits include West Side Story, The Last Five Years and Blood Brothers.
Stewart Clarke as Javert
Stewart's credits include Mandela at the Young Vic, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club and Be More Chill at The Other Palace.
Lulu-Mae Pears as Cosette
Lulu-Mae continues in her role as Cosette which is her West End debut, she previously appeared in a production of West Side Story in Slovenia.
Claire Machin as Madame Thénardier
Claire's credits include Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre, Girls the Musical at the Phoenix Theatre and Memphis at the Shaftesbury Theatre
Dean Chisnall as Jean Valjean
From 28 February to 25 March 2023 Dean Chisnall will return to London to play the role of Jean Valjean for a strictly limited season, following the completion of the Les Misérables UK and Ireland tour.
The company is completed by Annabelle Aquino, Hazel Baldwin, Brad Barnley, Michael Baxter, Emily Olive Boyd, Rosy Church, Ben Culleton, Matthew Dale, Matt Dempsey, Sophie-May Feek, Matt Hayden, Tom Hext, Christopher Jacobsen, Jessica Johns-Parsons, Yazmin King, Sam Kipling, Anouk van Laake, Harry Lake, Sarah Lark, Ellie Ann Lowe, Ben Oatley, Adam Pearce, Jordan Simon Pollard, Jonathan Stevens, Phoebe Williams and Ollie Wray.
What does Les Misérables mean?
Les Misérables literally translates as "the miserable ones". The musical was originally written in French and takes place in Paris during the 19th century.
What is the story of Les Mis?
Based on Victor Hugo's 1862 novel of the same name, Les Misérables tells the story of Jean Valjean, a convict who served 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister's starving child.
Filled with redemption, Jean Valjean is desperate to start his life over and breaks his parole. Tracked down constantly by police officer Javert, Jean Valjean and a whole host of characters are swept up in a tale of revolutionary France which tries to overthrow the government and make radical change.
When was the Les Mis film released?
The film adaptation of Les Misérables was released in 2012 and was directed by Tom Hooper. The Les Mis film starred an incredible cast of Hollywood icons include Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe.
Also in the cast was West End star, Samantha Barks who had already played the role of Éponine on the West End and in the 25th anniversary concert at London's O2 Arena. Samantha will be taking on the role of Elsa in Frozen the musical when it comes to the West End.
How can I watch the Les Mis film?
Les Mis is available on DVD or to buy and rent digitally at various retailers. If you use streaming services you can currently watch Les Misérables on Netflix.
Who wrote the music for Les Mis?
Les Misérables is renowned for its phenomenal score by Claude-Michel Schönberg with the original French lyrics by Alain Boublil. The lyrics were translated into English by Herbert Kretzmer.
The show is jam-packed with iconic songs including the heartbreaking 'I Dreamed a Dream' sung by Fantine, Jean Valjean's famous 'Who am I', 'Do You Hear the People Sing' has us ready for battle and many of us may have sung along to Éponine's 'On My Own' when we realised our crush didn't fancy us back.
Meanwhile 'Master of the House' sung by the Thénardiers provides some much needed comic relief especially as other songs like 'Empty Chairs at Empty Tables' will really get the waterworks flowing.
However, the most iconic number of the show has to be 'One Day More' that has set an incredibly high bar on how to end the first act of a musical. The song flawlessly interweaves the melodies we've heard so far into an epic ensemble number that will give you goosebumps!
Where is the West End production of Les Misérables?
The West End home of Les Miserables is currently the Sondheim Theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, London, just a short walk from Piccadilly Circus. The theatre was previously called the Queen's Theatre before it underwent a renovation in 2019 and was renamed after the legendary composer, Stephen Sondheim.
How can I get tickets for Les Mis?
Tickets for Les Mis in the West End can be purchased online or you can call the box office on 0844 482 5138 (calls to this number cost 7p per minute).
Information regarding accessibility at the Sondheim Theatre can be found online or by calling 0344 482 5137.
Is Les Mis going on tour?
The most recent UK and Ireland tour of Les Misérables came to a close in January 2023.
Is Les Mis on Broadway?
Not at the moment, Les Mis first opened on Broadway in 1986 with the original run lasting until 2003. When the original Broadway production closed, it had the second-longest run for a Broadway musical. The production now sits in 6th place having been overtaken by The Phantom of the Opera, the 1996 revival of Chicago, The Lion King and Wicked.
There have been two Broadway revivals of Les Misérables with the most recent revival running from 2014 to 2016.
When did Les Mis re-open on the West End?
Following the UK government announcing a roadmap out of lockdown restrictions, producers of Les Mis announced their plans to re-open on the West End. The show returned as a staged concert at the Sondheim Theatre on 20th May 2021 where the cast were able to socially distance from each other.
The concert closed in September and and on the 25th September 2021 the full production was back at the Sondheim Theatre.
Who was in the cast of Les Misérables The Staged Concert?
The concert version of Les Misérables starred 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 in some performances Dean Chisnall played the role of Jean Valjean.
What's the difference between the concert version and the full musical?
The differences between the staged concert and the full production are what you'd expect when comparing the two. The concert version included less set and less movement from the cast with more focus on the music of the show.
The cast were still very much be in costume and acting their roles so you had the story communicated to you.
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