Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre

Venue Information

Queen's Theatre

51 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 6BA
Seating Plan

Seating Tip!

The Queen’s Theatre is a large West End house which is split over three levels. It is often better to be higher up than further back in the Stalls, due to the low overhang.

Show Schedule and Audience

Matinees: Wednesday and Saturday 2:30pm
Evenings: Monday to Saturday 7:30pm

Running Time: 3 hours
Booking Until: 26 April 2014

Audience:

Les Miserables is a classic musical, which features a ‘sung through’ score in a quasi operatic style. Theatre lovers and first time audiences will be engrossed in the show, as it really does include something for everyone. There are comic moments alongside battles and emotional drama – everything you would expect from a classic novel.

This show is recommended for children aged 7 above, due to its length and subject matter. Please note that children under the age of 5 years will not be admitted into the venue, and everyone will require their own ticket.

Description

Les Miserables, or ‘Les Mis’ as it has come to be known, is the world’s longest running musical and continues to be one of the firm favourites in London’s West End. After opening to lukewarm reviews back in 1985, audiences fell in love with the show, which went on to transfer from the Barbican to the Palace Theatre, before eventually settling at the Queen’s Theatre. Based on Victor Hugo’s epic French novel, the musical is set in Revolutionary France and follows the plight of convict Jean Valjean as he struggles to escape the law and right his wrongs, along with a colourful mix of characters drawn from the breadth of society. The show features a score by Alain Boublil with lyrics by Claude Michel Schonberg and has made classics of songs such as ‘I Dreamed a Dream’, ‘On My Own’ and ‘Bring Him Home’ which have been covered by artists from around the world.

Despite its longevity, the musical remains fresh and exhilarating, thanks to the hugely talented cast it attracts, which in recent years has included Sierra Boggess, Danielle Hope, Alfie Boe and Ramin Karimloo. Whether you are a fan of the show already or coming to it for the first time, you will be swept away by the powerful story, stirring songs and breathtaking production. This really is a show that you will remember forever.

Lead Characters

Jean Valjean – the convict ‘24601’ who is given his ticket of leave at the beginning of the show. After a rough beginning, he manages to become a Mayor, becoming surrogate father to the young Cosette. He sings the impressive ‘Who Am I?’ soliloquy and the moving ‘Bring Him Home’ prayer on the barricades.

Inspector Javert – Javert spends his life chasing Valjean, becoming more and more obsessed with his position and job. After he is captured on the barricades he finds some humility and realises his efforts are in vein. His songs range from the ‘Confrontation’ with Valjean to the beautiful aria ‘Stars’.
Fantine – The mother of Cosette who is sacked from the factory for having a bastard child. She is taken into Valjean’s care before trusting him with her daughter. She sings the emotional ballad ‘I Dreamed a Dream’.

Cosette – First seen as a child singing ‘Castle on a Cloud’, she is bought from the Thenardier’s by Valjean who continues to raise her. As a woman she falls in love with student Marius, and the pair are married after his escape from the barricade.

Marius – Maris is a student of the ABC Café and quickly falls in love with Cosette as he sees her in Paris. He fights in the French Revolution and is injured on the barricades, saved only by the strength of Valjean. He sings ‘Empty Chairs at Empty Tables’, before finally marrying Cosette.

Eponine – The daughter of the treacherous Thenardier’s, Eponine grows up as a street urchin. She falls in love with student Marius, but helps facilitate his relationship with Cosette. She sings ‘On My Own’ as she struggles to be noticed, and ‘A Little Fall of Rain’ as she is killed in the fighting on the barricades.

Thenardier’s – A gruesome couple who own a bar where they are ‘Masters of the House’. After selling Cosette to Valjean they make money by grave digging amongst the corpses of the revolution. They provide light comedic relief to the otherwise gloomy story.

Enjolras – The leader of the student revolutionary movement. He rallies the troops at the Barricades with the inspirational ‘Do You Hear the People Sing?’

Critics Reviews

New orchestrations and a solid cast bring new life into the world’s longest running musical.

- Tim, CheapTheatreTickets.com

25 years later Les Miserables continues to Dream the Dream

- Dominic, CheapTheatreTickets.com

"...a rousing, shamelessly entertaining evening of tuneful and spectacular popular theatre..."

- Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

All reviews

Photos and Video

Les Miserables Do You Hear the People Sing

Awards

2012 Laurence Olivier Awards: BBC Radio 2 Audience Award for Long Running Show

1985 Laurence Olivier Awards: Best Actress in a Musical (Patti LuPone)

1987 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Michael Maguire), Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (Frances Ruffelle), Best Direction of a Musical, Best Scenic Design.

Trivia & Insights

Did you know that every night the actor playing Enjolras has to jump off the barricade and grab onto a handle at the exact moment, or they will end up falling down, getting crushed by the set!? It is often the most stressful part of the show for each of the actors who takes on the part every night!
There are almost 400 costumes and over 30 wigs used for every single performance!
After opening at the Barbican Theatre in 1986 the show was damned by the critics, who thought that it was ‘miserable’, and the show clocked in at well over 3.5 hours!

Les Miserables voted Best Show!

(16 Apr 2012)

After an impressive 26 years in the West End, Les Miserables took home the 2012 Olivier Award for Best long running Musical, as voted for by the public. The show also announced it is booking until 27th April 2013.

The Musicals of Boublil and Schonberg

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Boublil and Schonberg are responsible for some of the world's most famous musicals, including the huge hits 'Les Miserables' and 'Miss Saigon'. Their music has been heard all over the world and continues to be popular in new productions. We took a look at some of their lesser known musicals to discover what it is about this duo that make them so universally appealing. Read more
Top 10 Past Les Mis Stars

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After a record breaking 27 years in the West End, earning the title of the world's longest running musical, Les Miserables has seen thousands of cast members come through its doors. We thought it would be fun to try and remember our favourites from over the years to decide who is the number 1 Les Mis star. Do you agree with our results? Read on and see! Read more
Les Miserables Movie - Cast Revealed

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With all the excitement for the upcoming big screen version of Les Miserables, we thought we would take a look at the impressive cast list that has been assembled for the project. Huge Hollywood A-listers have come together to make this one of the biggest films of the year, and we are SO excited to see it! Have a look at the full cast and give us your predictions of what they will be like in such iconic roles. Read more

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