Les Miserables opens in Sydney tonight

“The time is now, the day is here!”

The cast, crew and creative team of Les Miserables are preparing for a big day at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre with a gala opening scheduled for 7pm tonight.

After a successful debut season at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne, Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Boublil and Schönberg’s Les Mis transferred to Perth’s Crown Theatre for a short 10 week stint before returning to the eastern seaboard for the much anticipated Sydney season.

Simon Gleeson and Hayden Tee star in this production as Jean Valjean and Javert respectively, with Patrice Tipoki (Fantine), Chris Durling (Enjolras), Euan Doidge (Marius), Emily Langridge (Cossette), Kerrie Anne Greenland (Eponine), Lara Mulcahy (Madame Thenardier) and Trevor Ashley (Thenardier) rounding out the other principal roles.

Cameron Mackintosh himself is in town for the gala event and has made waves in the arts industry this week by speaking out about Sydney’s lack of mid-size theatres (1400 – 1500 seats) and the financial complications associated with such limited choices for producers in an interview with the ABC.

Read ABC news article here

“What we’ve lost in Sydney is the 1,500-seaters like Her Majesty’s, which were torn down and not replaced… And I think one, if not two, 1,500-seaters is the great thing and will level the playing ground and help every producer.”

– Cameron Mackintosh on ABC Online. Read full interview here

While this is not a new revelation (the discussion has been ongoing since mid-sized theatres The Regent and Her Majesty’s were torn down more than 15 years ago), it certainly has sparked new interest in the community.

What happens next is anyone’s guess, but let’s hope it’s a step in the right direction – economically and artistically – for the creative arts industry.

Les Miserables is playing at the Capitol Theatre Sydney from March 26. 

Visit lesmis.com.au for more details