‘In 1985, Edward Behr in Newsweek predicted that LES MIS would be “a musical that makes history” – it certainly has’…
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Boublil and Schönberg’s musical sensation Les Misérables, Cameron Mackintosh has put together, for 8 weeks only, a special company of artists who have been part of Les Mis history and are drawn from the West End, International, movie and Arena Spectacular Miz Rocks World Tour casts of the show.
Cameron Mackintosh:
“It’s hard to believe that Les Misérables is already 40 years old and still in the prime of life on Shaftesbury Avenue in London’s West End, packing out the Sondheim Theatre.
“What a year it has already been for Les Mis, with the spectacular Arena Tour selling out around the World featuring many of the stars of the stage production, and 11 of the UK’s greatest Amateur Companies presenting their own acclaimed productions in major theatres around the country.
“Now in London, where it all began in 1985, with the British premiere of the reconstructed version of the show in English in association with the RSC, originally brilliantly staged by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, and then after 25 years, evolving into a new equally acclaimed production directed by James Powell and Laurence Connor with new designs and staging, keeping the spirit of LES MISÉRABLES revolutionary for the 21st Century.”
From 8 September to 1 November 2025 the role of ‘Jean Valjean’ will be played by Killian Donnelly alongside Bradley Jaden as ‘Javert’, Katie Hall as ‘Fantine’, Jac Yarrow as ‘Marius’, Shan Ako as ‘Éponine’, Jordan Shaw as ‘Enjolras’, Beatrice Penny-Touré as ‘Cosette’ and welcoming to the Sondheim Theatre celebrated British actor Adam Gillen as ‘Thénardier’ and Australian theatre legend Marina Prior as ‘Madame Thénardier’. Ian McIntosh will play the role of ‘Jean Valjean’ at certain performances. Details on how to get tickets for the actual birthday performance, Wednesday 8 October, will soon be announced.
Side by side with the anniversary company, Mackintosh has also confirmed a new cast who, from 7 July, will launch the show into its 5th record-breaking decade. It will be led by Ian McIntosh as ‘Jean Valjean’ alongside Sam Oladeinde as ‘Javert’, Katie Hall as ‘Fantine’, Adam Gillen joins the Company as ‘Thénardier’, Claire Machin as ‘Madame Thénardier’, Thiago Phillip Felizardo as ‘Marius’, Amena El-kindy as ‘Éponine’, Joe Griffiths-Brown as ‘Enjolras’ and Izzi Levine as ‘Cosette’, most of whom will continue in the World’s Longest Running Musical from 3 November 2025 following the 8-week birthday season.
The company is completed by Hollie Aires, Aidan Banyard, Ella May Carter, Nicholas Carter, Matthew Dale, Irfan Damani, Lila Falce-Bass, Sophie-May Feek, Jessica Johns-Parsons, Seán Keany, Chris Kiely, Sam Kipling, Mia Lamb, Sarah Lark, Ollie Llewelyn-Williams, Matthew McConnell, Aaron-Jade Morgan, Adam Pearce, William Pennington, Jordan Simon Pollard, Lewis Renninson, Danielle Rose, Georgia Tapp, Noah Thallon, Imaan Victoria, and Danny Whelan.
Cameron Mackintosh:
“Remarkably, even though the first staging of the concept album of LES MISÉRABLES happened in Paris in 1980, directed by Robert Hossein, the French never truly embraced LES MIS until Christmas 2024, when the Châtelet, the National Theatre of France, presented a completely new all-French production of our version – it proved a triumph, deservedly garnering the show’s original creators, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, the Légion d’Honneur.
“As we go into our remarkable fifth decade, we have found a terrific new cast to continue storming the barricade from 7 July for ‘One Year More’. And in celebration of our 40th Birthday, I have put together, as I have always done for major celebrations, a special cast for eight weeks only, drawn from the outstanding performers of the last decade’s international productions of LES MIS, as well as the current Arena Spectacular and the Oscar winning movie, all of whom have emerged as new theatre stars. This will be the last time that they will all be able to play together in LES MIS as their careers take them onto new stellar paths.”
Boublil and Schönberg’s magnificent iconic score of with lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer 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, Master Of The House and many more. Several of its songs have become real life anthems of revolution wherever in the world people are fighting for their freedom.
Les Misérables has been seen by over 130 million people worldwide in 55 countries, 452 cities, and has been translated into 22 languages. It has won over 180 major awards around the world, among which 4 Olivier Awards (including a special recognition award in April 2025), 8 Tony Awards and 5 Helpmann Awards, and the movie won 3 Oscars.
As part of the 40th anniversary celebrations, Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular is currently on a world tour having sold out venues across the UK, Europe, Abu Dhabi, Australia and is now in Taipei before visiting Kaohsiung, venues across Japan, Shanghai and more cities to be announced.
Last year, Cameron Mackintosh and Music Theatre International announced Let The People Sing, a UK-wide amateur theatre project celebrating the 40th anniversary of Boublil and Schönberg’s worldwide phenomenon throughout 2025.
For the first time ever in the UK, 11 leading amateur companies have been allowed to present their own versions of the full production in cities across the United Kingdom. The show, which has never previously been made available to amateur groups in the UK whilst it continues to play to packed houses in the West End, has already been staged in Belfast, Leeds, Glasgow, Porthcurno, Nottingham and Birmingham, and will soon play Norwich, Liverpool, Swansea, Bristol and Brighton.
Last July, Les Misérables featured in the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, which was watched by over 700 million people around the world. Les Misérables is the longest running and indisputably one of the most popular musicals in the world.
Cameron Mackintosh:
“In 1985, Edward Behr in Newsweek predicted that LES MIS would be “a musical that makes history” – it certainly has. A very special Birthday celebration indeed for the World’s longest running musical.
“My grateful thanks must first be to the show’s brilliant creators Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, without whom none of us would have a job, and the timeless words of Herbert Kretzmer inspired, as we all have been, by the great Victor Hugo. My eternal gratitude to everyone who has been involved with Les Misérables over the last 40 years both on and off the stage, and lastly thanks to you our audience for continually wanting to Hear The People Sing and ensure that Tomorrow Always Comes for Les Misérables.”
LES MISÉRABLES
Sondheim Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 6BA
Now booking until 28 March 2026
Prices: Tickets from £25 – No booking fee applies
Box Office: 0344 482 5151
Website: www.lesmis.com
