Les Misérables

Barbican Theatre & Palace Theatre, RSC

A Musical by Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg

Based on the novel by Victor Hugo

Lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer

Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg

Original Text by Alain Boublil & Jean-Marc Natel

Additional Material by James Fenton

This was a Royal Shakespeare Company presentation of an RSC Cameron Mackintosh production. The world première performance was at the Barbican Theatre on 28th September 1985 and it opened to the press on 8th October.

The production then transferred to the Palace Theatre in the West End where it opened on the 4th December 1985.

The first US production opened in Washington DC a year later on 27th December 1987 before opening in New York at the Broadway Theatre on 12th March 1987.

Productions in Japan and Australia soon followed as well as a series of US and Canadian touring productions. Within a few years, it was running in numerous productions all over the world in many different languages.

The London production of Les Misérables later transferred from the Palace Theatre to the Queen’s Theatre, where it is still running.

Producers and Artistic Directors wishing to make their own productions of Les Misérables can make enquiries about licensing by clicking here.

Olivier Awards 1985

Outstanding Performance of the Year by an Actress in a Musical – Patti Lupone for the role of Fantine.

Outstanding Performance of the Year by an Actor in a Musical – Alun Armstrong for the role of M. Thénardier (Nomination)

Colm Wilkinson for the role of Jean Valjean (Nomination)

Musicial of the Year - Les Miserables by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. (Nomination)

Creative team

Adapted and Directed byTrevor Nunn and John Caird
DesignerJohn Napier
LightingDavid Hersey
CostumesAndreane Neofitou
Musical Supervision and OrchestrationsJohn Cameron
Musical DirectionMartin Koch
Company Fight WorkMalcolm Ransom
Musical StagingKate Flatt
SoundAndrew Bruce
Assistant Director Dion McHugh
Design Assistant Benjamin Hilliard
Lighting Assistants Jozef Celder & Adam Grater
Stage Manager Trevor Williamson
Deputy Stage Manager Philip McDonald & Michael Stanislaw
Assistant Stage Managers Rosy Fowler
Literal Translation from the French Siobhan Bracke

Cast

Jean Valjean Colm Wilkinson
Javert Roger Allam
Chain Gang Dave Willets, Paul Leonard, Clive Carter, Christopher Beck, Gary Huddlestone, Alun Armstrong, Michael Ball, Keith Burns & David Burt.
Farmer Craig Pinder
Labourer Keith Burns
Innkeeper Peter Polycarpou
Innkeeper’s Wife Jill Martin
Bishop of Digne Ken Caswell
Constables Ian Calvin & Colin Marsh
Fantine Patti Lupone
Foreman Paul Leonard
WorkersChristopher Beck, Craig Pinder
Women Workers Sally Mates, Beverley Klein, Caroline Quentin, Aline Mowat
Factory Girl Jackie Marks
SailorsChristopher Beck, Gary Huddlestone, Dave Willets
Whores Jill Martin, Jackie Marks, Caroline Quentin, Aline Mowat, Liza Hayden, Rebecca Caine, Frances Ruffelle, Sian Rivers
Old Woman Sally Mates
CroneBeverley Klein
Pimp Colin Marsh
Bamatabois Clive Carter
Fauchelevent Ian Calvin
Little Cosette Zoë Hart, Jayne O’Mahoney, Joanne Woodcock
Madame Thénardier Sue Jane Tanner
ThénardierAlun Armstrong
Little Eponine Danielle Akers, Gillian Brander, Juliette Caton
Drinker Craig Pinder
Young Couple Keith Burns, Liza Hayden
Drunk Peter Polycarpou
Diners Ken Caswell, Caroline Quentin
Other Drinkers Colin Marsh, Clive Carter, Dave Willets, Aline Mowat, Jill Martin
Young Man Gary Huddlestone
Young Girls Jackie Marks, Sian Rivers
Old Couple Beverley Klein, Christopher Beck
Travellers Paul Leonard, Ian Calvin
Gavroche Liza Hayden, Oliver Spencer, Ian Tucker
Old Beggar Woman Jill Martin
Young Prostitute Jackie Marks
Pimp Peter Polycarpou
Unemployed Man Ken Caswell
Blind Beggar Caroline Quentin
Woman with Baby Beverley Klein
Students Paul Leonard, Gary Huddlestone
Eponine Frances Ruffelle
Montparnasse Keith Burns
Babet Ian Calvin
Brujon Dave Willets
Claquesous Colin Marsh
Marius Michael Ball
Cosette Rebecca Caine
Combeferre Paul Leonard
Feuilly Gary Huddlestone
Courfeyrac Craig Pinder
Enjolras David Burt
Joly Christopher Beck
Grantaire Clive Carter
Lesgles Ken Caswell
Jean Prouvaire Peter Polycarpou

Band

Keyboards Andy Read
Flute/Piccolo Christopher Lacey
Clarinet/Alto Saxophone Victor Slaymark
Oboe/Cor Anglais Caroline Marwood
Horns Brian Newman & Duncan Hollowood
Trumpets Roderick Tearle & Peter Wright
Trombone David Hissey
Synthesiser/Piano Peter Washtell
Percussion Tony McVey
Drums Peter Boita
Guitar Ian Laws
Bass Guitar Brent Forbes
Violin (Leader) Laurie Lewis
Violins Norman Lederman, Richard Bureau & Vaughn Armon
CellosPeter Halling, Paul Kegg

Management and Administration

Producer Cameron Mackintosh
Company Manager Robert M. West
Stage Manager Sheena Linden
Deputy Stage Manager Stephen Higgins
Assistant Stage Managers Jason Bevan, Rosy Fowler & Isabel Pric
Assistant Director Ken Caswell
Sound Operator Madeleine Parisio

Understudies

Marius Keith Burns
Javert Clive Carter
Thénardier Ken Caswell
Enjolras Paul Leonard
Eponine Jackie Marks
Madame Thénardier Sally Mates
Fantine Aline Mowat
Cosette Sian Reeves
Jean Valjean Dave Willets
Standbys Aidan Cook & Holly Russell