Cast Announced For New Australian Production of Les Misérables
The acclaimed new production of Boublil & Schönberg’s legendary musical LES MISÉRABLES, with glorious new
staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, will premiere in Melbourne
in 2014. This much loved blockbuster musical returns to Australia after 17 years. Previews commence in June and
opening night will be held on July 3rd 2014. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Thursday 17th October
through Ticketek.
The new production of LES MISÉRABLES has been praised by critics, fans and new audiences for the last three
years, breaking box office records internationally and inspiring filmmakers to make the outstandingly successful
movie which has gone on to win 3 Oscar’s®, 3 Golden Globes® and 4 BAFTA’s.
Following an extensive search to find Australia’s brightest stars, Cameron Mackintosh is thrilled to reveal the
talented cast for next year’s highly-anticipated return of LES MISÉRABLES.
“Twenty-five years ago I set out to find Australia’s stars of the future for my first Australian production of LES
MISÉRABLES. It launched the careers of some of Australia’s biggest stars, like Marina Prior and Anthony Warlow,
and I’m thrilled today to announce an amazing cast of performers that I’m hoping will also become household
names in the future.” Cameron Mackintosh said.
Playing the iconic role of Jean Valjean is established actor and musical theatre star Simon Gleeson. Simon has
worked extensively in theatre, film and television in Australia and the UK, including performing in London’s
prestigious West End. Simon has been nominated for two Helpmann Awards for Mamma Mia! and Love Never
Dies, a Sydney Theatre Award for Love Never Dies and most recently a Green Room Award for Chess.
“I’m so thrilled to be playing Valjean in the new Australian production of LES MISÉRABLES,” Simon said. “With
arguably the most breathtaking score in musical theatre history, LES MISÉRABLES transformed musical theatre
when it first opened. The show remains iconic and relevant today because it deals with themes of love, courage, the
human spirit and the difficult choices we make which define who we are and what we stand for.”
NIDA-trained Hayden Tee will play Valjean’s lifelong antagonist Javert. Hayden has appeared in many musical
theatre and opera productions around the world, including Being Earnest, My Fair Lady and in 2005 he played
Marius in the 20th anniversary West End production of LES MISÉRABLES.
Starring as Fantine is Patrice Tipoki. Known to Australian audiences from lead roles in The Lion King and Wicked,
Patrice has been preparing for the role of Fantine since she was a little girl. Hailing from a musical family, she first
saw LES MISÉRABLES in Brisbane at the age of 6 and ever since would perform songs from the show for anyone
who would listen.
Playing Madame Thénardier is the irresistible Lara Mulcahy. Lara has appeared in countless stage, TV and film
productions including three Baz Luhrmann films, Strictly Ballroom, Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby. Lara won
a Green Room Award for her performance in Mamma Mia! Joining Lara in the role of the villainous Monsieur
Thénardier is Australian theatre and cabaret favourite, Trevor Ashley. Co-writer and star of the recent stage hit,
Little Orphan Trashley, Trevor has appeared in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: The Musical, Hairspray: The Musical and
Jerry Springer: The Opera.
Making her professional debut, WAAPA 2012 graduate Kerrie Anne Greenland will play Eponine with fellow
graduate Emily Langridge cast in the beloved role of Cosette. Emily was recently seen in The Production
Company’s Gypsy. Chris Durling is excited to be playing Enjolras, the passionate student leader of the revolution,
in Melbourne next year. Chris has recently performed in the Australian and New Zealand productions of Jersey
Boys, Grease, as well as a member of the popular children’s group The Crocmen with Bindi Irwin. Playing the love
struck revolutionary Marius is Helpmann Award nominated performer Euan Doidge. Euan has appeared in recent
productions of Legally Blonde, A Chorus Line and Grease.
Twenty-four of Australia’s finest talents join the LES MISÉRABLES ensemble, with the child roles of Little
Cosette, Young Eponine, and Gavroche to be cast in early 2014.
To coincide with the production’s premiere in Melbourne next year, the State Library of Victoria also announced
today that they will be hosting a world-first exhibition, VICTOR HUGO: LES MISÉRABLES FROM PAGE
TO STAGE. This ambitious international exhibition follows the evolution of LES MISÉRABLES from one of the
world’s greatest literary masterpieces into the most successful and beloved stage musical of all time.
The exhibition will include original LES MISÉRABLES scripts, scores, costumes, set designs, posters, photographs
and films that will take visitors backstage and into the heart of this musical phenomenon. It reveals the Paris of
Hugo’s time and explores the events that shaped his most successful work and will display rarely seen sketches by
Hugo that have inspired the design of this 25th Anniversary Production. This exhibition is a must see for all Les
Mis fans and runs from 18 July until 9 November 2014.
“Major theatre productions like LES MISÉRABLES generate significant economic benefits for Victoria, attracting
thousands of visitors from interstate and overseas,” Victorian Premier Denis Napthine said.
“We are proud that Melbourne has been chosen as the host city for this outstanding production. Sir Cameron
Mackintosh has been a great friend to Victoria and was last here with the outstanding and sell-out production of
Mary Poppins a few years ago.”
Set against the backdrop of 19th-century revolutionary France, LES MISÉRABLES is the world’s longest running
musical and has been seen by over 65 million people worldwide in 42 countries and in 22 languages, LES MISÉRABLES
is undisputedly one of the most popular musicals of all time. Having won more than 100 major awards around the
world it has been hailed as the most stirring, moving musical ever. Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, it is an epic
and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. The magnificent score of LES MISÉRABLES 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.
Cameron Mackintosh’s production of LES MISÉRABLES is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel
Schönberg and is based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert
Kretzmer and original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel. Adapted by Trevor Nunn and John Caird,
it has additional material by James Fenton. The 25th Anniversary Production is directed by Laurence Connor and
James Powell and designed by Matt Kinley. Original costumes are by Andreane Neofitou, additional costumes by
Christine Rowland, lighting design by Paule Constable and sound design by Mick Potter. Executive Producer of
the Australian production is Michael Cassel.
The Australian premiere of Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed new production, LES MISÉRABLES, arrives at
Her Majesty’s Theatre Melbourne from June 2014.
TICKETS ON SALE THURSDAY 17TH OCTOBER
www.ticketek.com.au/lesmis or phone: 1300 795 012
For further information www.lesmis.com
