The storyline to Victor Hugo’s rousing, great 1862 novel LES MISERABLES continues to resonate in theatres around the world.
The much anticipated LES MISÉRABLES THE ARENA SPECTACULAR has landed in Sydney and is an adaptation of the groundbreaking musical with music by Claude-Michel Schonberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Alain Boubil and Jean-Marc Natel.
This arena spectacular production ticks all the boxes of what makes good theatre.
The performances were uniformly outstanding. The cast was led by Alfie Be as Jean Valijean and Michael Ball as Javert, alongside Matt Lucas as Thénardier, Rachelle Ann Go as Fantine, Jac Yarrow as Marius, Beatrice Penny-Touré as Cosette, James D. Gish as Enjolras, NShan Ako as Éponine and Earl Carpenter as the Bishop of Digne. Marina Prior was down to play Madame Thenardier however was ill on the night and I don’t have the details on her replacement.
The cast was completed by Jonathon Bentley, Rebecca Bolton, Olivia Brereton, Amelia Broadway, Michael Burgen, Mary-Jean Caldwell, Beth Curnock, Shaun Dalton, Jade Davies, Jonathan David Dudley, Harry Dunnett, Louis Emmanuel, Charlie Geoghegan, Harry Grant Smith, Connor Jones, Caleb Lagayan, Abel Law, Adam Robert Lewis, Georgie Lovatt, Andrew Maxwell, Jill Nalder, Zabrina Norry, Lisa Peace, Ciaran Rodger, Jo Stephenson, Geddy Stringer, Owain Williams and Australians Daniel Koek and Helen Walsh. Australian child cast Samara Coull-Williams, Christopher Joseph, Violet Massingham, Sebastian Sero, Scarlett Sheludko, Orlando Steiner, William Steiner. and Alexandra Szewcow.
Alongside them for the Australian leg of the World Tour is 8 talented Australian children. 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.
The music is mesmeric and the show’s outstanding feature. One is simply in awe of the melodies of 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, Master Of The House and many more.
The work by the creative team led by co- directors James Powell and Jean-Pierre Van Der Spuy, with set design by Matt Kinley, sound design by Mick Potter, lighting design by Paule Constable and Warren Letton, projections by Finn Ross, costume design by Andreane Neofitou with additional design by Christine Rowland and Paul Wills, was outstanding.
Adrian Kirk conducted a terrific orchestra of 65 players from their position above the action.
This Arena production has already traveled through the United Kingdom and major European cities. It is playing through Australia for five weeks only, and then heads to Japan, Taiwan, China, and several other Asian countries before it returns to Europe and then is planning to extend across America.
A Cameron Mackintosh and Nick Grace Management production in association with Live Nation Australia, LES MISERABLES THE ARENA SPECTACULAR is currently playing the ICC Theatre and then will move on to Melbourne and then Brisbane, all within five weeks.
Production photography by Danny Kaan
http://www.lesmisarenatour.com.au
