Picture: Roy Tan
For the first time in the UK 11 amateur theatre companies have been invited to present their own production of Boublil and Schönberg’s global phenomenon Les Misérables.
Created by Cameron Mackintosh and Music Theatre International (MTI) as part of the 40th-anniversary celebrations for the London production of the much-loved musical, the LET THE PEOPLE SING community project will run from March 2025 until August 2025 with productions playing at venues across the country.
Marking the first time the musical will be made available to amateur societies, the productions will be staged in Belfast, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham, Norwich, Porthcurno and Swansea.
Announcing the project, Mackintosh said: “The phenomenon of Les Misérables continues to break new ground, just as Victor Hugo’s novel has since it was first published in 1862. The world’s longest-running musical was first made available to students under 19 (in an edited schools’ edition) in 2002, to mark the bicentennial of Victor Hugo’s birth.
“As we approach the extraordinary landmark of the 40th record-breaking year of the iconic musical’s London run, alongside countless productions around the world, we are delighted to invite 11 of our leading amateur companies in the UK to stage, for the first time, the entire show in their own productions. This will involve many hundreds of amateur performers around the country, becoming part of our own year-long celebrations.
“The success of this much-loved musical was famously made by the public – not the early critics – so what better way to enjoy this unprecedented event, than Let the People Sing!”
Sean Gray, the managing director of MTI’s London office added: “MTI cherishes our amateur theatre companies. They bring our musicals to the whole country, including to towns and areas not regularly visited by national touring productions. They nurture and develop talent in a unique and invaluable way, as well as providing opportunities for everyone who loves performing and making theatre to be a part of productions on all the country’s stages. Many of the great shows live on in amateur productions, often decades after their initial productions in the West End or on Broadway.
“Although we have been able to license thousands of productions of Les Misérables School Edition to schools and youth groups, the remarkable success of the West End production in London and on tour means it hasn’t been possible to offer the show to our major amateur companies. But for one year, we are thrilled to have this opportunity to invite amateur theatre companies across the UK to produce eleven local productions, which we hope will be genuine local community projects.
“We already know how much excitement the project will generate, and we are really looking forward to guiding everyone towards a great national amateur celebration of Les Misérables in 2025 to mark the 40th anniversary of the London production. Let the people sing!”
The 11 amateur societies will act as lead producers at each individual venue, working with other local groups to produce the best possible community productions of the show. Groups will also receive support and guidance from the show’s West End and international associate creative teams as they prepare their own, non-replica version of the musical. Casting for all 11 productions will be via open casting calls, with details released locally at a later date.
The UK amateur premieres of Les Misérables: LET THE PEOPLE SING will be at: The Grand Opera House, Belfast, 4-8 March 2025; Grand Theatre, Leeds, 3-12 April 2025; King’s Theatre, Glasgow, 23-27 April 2025; Minack Theatre, Porthcurno, 25-30 May 2025; Theatre Royal, Nottingham, 27-31 May 2025; The Alexandra, Birmingham, 10-14 June 2025; Norwich Theatre Royal, 2-6 July 2025; Liverpool Empire, 3-5 July 2025; Grand Theatre, Swansea, 10-19 July 2025; Bristol Hippodrome, 12-16 August 2025; and Theatre Royal, Brighton, 13-23 August 2025.
Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, Les Misérables is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg. It has music by Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel with additional material by James Fenton and adaptation by Trevor Nunn and John Caird.
The critically acclaimed West End production of Les Misérables continues to play at the Sondheim Theatre where it is celebrating its 39th revolutionary year in London.
Angela Thomas
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