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Book Tickets
THE
STORY

Les Miserables – West End

  • Theatre

    Sondheim Theatre

  • Duration

    150 minutes

  • Age Restrictions

    6+ years

Victor Hugo’s vast novel – a sweeping set of stories amid the French Revolution – was always an unlikely candidate for a stage musical. That Les Mis, as the show has come to be known, has become the longest-running production in musical theatre history beggars belief.

It was initially sniffed at by the critics, dismissed as melodrama and mere spectacle, but as the rolling ticker running around the Queen’s Theatre boasts, it has since been seen by more than 70 million people worldwide.

With lyrics by Alain Boublil and a sung-through score by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Les Misérables was developed by the Royal Shakespeare Company in the mid-eighties and quickly became the show that made its producer Cameron Mackintosh’s name – and his millions.

Read More

Set in 19th Century France, Hugo’s story centres on Jean Valjean – a down-and-out peasant imprisoned after stealing a loaf of bread for his starving nephew. Les Miserables is his quest for redemption after breaking jail and robbing a kindly bishop of his silver. Pursued by his prison guard, a stern police officer named Javert, the law catches up with Valjean – only for his victim to cover for him, claiming the silver was a gift and handing over two further candlesticks. Valjean swears he will become an honest man. Years later, the two men, the prisoner and policeman, will come face to face again.

Les Mis homes in on the revolution itself, and as it takes to the barricades, the musical follows a series of characters through tumultuous times. For some, like the grotesque Madame and Monsier Thernadier, they’re an opportunity for profiteering; for others, like the revolutionary Enroljas and his student Marius, a shot at political upheaval. Valjean, now wealthy and moral, joined in their crusade – as does Javert – and thought they should be fighting shoulder to shoulder, the two rivals find themselves head-to-head once more.

The musical is almost as epic as Hugo’s original novel, but Boublil and Schönberg’s score is astonishing. While its rousing revolutionary drum beats, ‘Do You Hear The People Sing’ and ‘One Day More,’ have become iconic, so have softer numbers like ‘I Dreamed a Dream,’ ‘Stars’ and ‘Empty Chairs and Empty Tables’ that carry its love stories and its heartfelt grief. Far from being an overblown melodrama – a grand historical yarn of revolutionaries and corsets – Les Miserables is tender, honest and, above all else, human. Book your Les Miserables Tickets today!

INFO

Info

Les Miserables Tickets

Choose your seats via our live booking platform. Once payment is completed, you will receive an email confirmation with your booking reference number and eTickets.

Upon arrival at the venue, display the eTickets on your phone or show the box office a printed ticket.

Secure Theatre Tickets

Which Theatre

Les Miserables is showing at the Sondheim Theatre at 51 Shaftesbury Avenue, Soho, London W1D 6BA.

Any Questions

If you have questions about your ticket purchase, contact our customer services team on 020 3670 8887

Good to Know

Strobe lighting is used several times during the performance.

Age Recommendation

For ages six and above.

Can I Video or Take Photos?

The use of camera and sound recording equipment is strictly prohibited.

Les Miserables – Reviews

5 star ratingDo you hear the people sing? Ich würde gerne mehr als 5 Punkte geben, geht aber leider nicht. Dieses war mein erster Theaterbesuch nach Corona und es sollte etwas Besonderes sein. Und ich wurde nicht enttäusch!... read moreIch würde gerne mehr als 5 Punkte geben, geht aber leider nicht. Dieses war mein erster Theaterbesuch nach Corona und es sollte etwas Besonderes sein. Und ich wurde nicht enttäusch! Ich hatte das Stück bereits 1999, damals im benachbarten Palace Theatre, gesehen. Inzwischen ist es in das Sondheim Theatre umgezogen und es hat eine Neuinszenierung gegeben. Da war ich ehrlich gesagt erst einmal etwas skeptisch, weil neu ja bekanntlich nicht immer besser ist. Aber hier hat man es perfekt hinbekommen und ich finde das Stück gewinnt sogar noch etwas dazu. Das Musical ist ja eh eines der Besten überhaupt. Die Darsteller waren aber auch alle überragend. Es war einfach große Klasse, die einem da geboten wird! Das Theater ist ein typisches altes Londoner Haus. Verwinkelt und man steigt zur Bühne hinunter. Wir hatten die Tickets im Vorraus bestellt da wir spezielle Plätze haben wollten. Es gibt aber immer Restkarten, wobei das Theater auch unter der Woche sehr gut besucht war. Der Souvenirshop bietet diverse Fanartikel. Im kompletten Theater kann nur mit Karte bezahlt werden! Auch die Garderobe! Es war wieder ein absolut fantastischer Musicalabend! read less
8/20/2023
5 star ratingBOOK THIS SHOW! Arranged this trip for my wife who LOVES musicals and it did not disappoint. There were some negatives around the venue (cramped and the heat) but this is easily overlooked... read moreArranged this trip for my wife who LOVES musicals and it did not disappoint. There were some negatives around the venue (cramped and the heat) but this is easily overlooked as soon as the show starts. It is exciting and I couldn’t look away the entire time. The set was amazing and the entire cast performed unbelievably. The guy playing Jean Valjean - I can not say enough good things. There is a reason he is the leading man. If you take a trip to London and do not book this show you’re missing out. read less
8/18/2023
5 star ratingStupendo Bellissimo spettacolo con fantastici interpreti. Consigliamo di documentarsi un minimo sulla trama, se non si conosce già l'opera di Victo Hugo, per seguire meglio il racconto.
8/07/2023
5 star ratingThe best musical Every time I come to London I see Les Mis. This time we had seats at the front of the dress circle. They were amazing seats! No obstruction to our... read moreEvery time I come to London I see Les Mis. This time we had seats at the front of the dress circle. They were amazing seats! No obstruction to our view, and a better view of the set. The sound was amazing! Two people tried to sneak into vacant seats next to us, but they were moved on. read less
8/06/2023
5 star ratingBrilliant! Don’t forget your tissues! Brilliant! The production value, soundtrack, songs and storyline are just amazing. The current company, whilst not as great as previous ones, are still extremely talented. Do take some tissues along... read moreBrilliant! The production value, soundtrack, songs and storyline are just amazing. The current company, whilst not as great as previous ones, are still extremely talented. Do take some tissues along as it is extremely emotional! read less
7/31/2023
5 star ratingOutstanding production highly recommended We sat 6 rows from the front in the stalls. The theatre is beautiful and had a cozy feel to it as we felt so close and immersed in the... read moreWe sat 6 rows from the front in the stalls. The theatre is beautiful and had a cozy feel to it as we felt so close and immersed in the scenes. The performers were incredible! Not just the main cast but others who sang showed that many of the cast had amazing voices. The scenery was fitting and with slick changes , moody lighting and smoke you felt so convinced with the setting. I cried several times as you could really feel the emotion the cast conveyed. First time we’ve seen the theatre production but seen the dvd which we loved. To be there in person was an added sparkle and we’d highly recommend going to see it. Absolutely amazing, thank you to all involved in this production. read less
7/29/2023
5 star ratingAmazing production I purchased tickets for my partner’s birthday as we regularly go the theatre. This was not a show, I personally would have chosen but was on partner’s bucket list! What... read moreI purchased tickets for my partner’s birthday as we regularly go the theatre. This was not a show, I personally would have chosen but was on partner’s bucket list! What can I say, firstly the staging and production was amazing, so much attention to detail that really captures each scene perfectly! The play is completely sung throughout, which was so powerful and convincing in conveying the story. Even with no actual dialogue, the story was uncomplicated, easy to follow and captivating. The voices, well they were out of this world. Every single song was beautifully sung with such emotion and power. So to summarise, this is definitely worth seeing, it is like nothing I have experienced before! read less
7/21/2023
5 star ratingPlease go see this. Just do it. !!! There's absolutely no words that would do this show justice. None at all. I also haven't stopped crying, so, thanks for that 😅 Absolutely breathtaking and stunning! Please, do yourself... read moreThere's absolutely no words that would do this show justice. None at all. I also haven't stopped crying, so, thanks for that 😅 Absolutely breathtaking and stunning! Please, do yourself a favour, go see this. 💜 read less
7/20/2023
5 star rating6 stars. 7 stars. This show could not possible be any better. This was my sixth time seeing the show and this current one is the absolute best production yet. There is not one single thing I can pick out that was... read moreThis was my sixth time seeing the show and this current one is the absolute best production yet. There is not one single thing I can pick out that was not perfect. The theatre is lovely and the crowd was very good - no popcorn munching, beer chugging, phone tapping disrespect - a lovely audience that arrived clearly with an appreciation of the production. The bar and souvenirs are great, the loos enough so no massive queue. We sat in dress circle front row which is easily the best seat in the house. I normally prefer stalls but for a show on this scale, dress circle row A mid is best. Many performers have a "stare at the sky" setup for the big songs, so they literally sing to you, most poignantly in "Stars" and "On my own" - it's chilling. The performance itself was by far the best one yet. All singers pulled a commanding, emotional show, people started choking up by the time the Bishop arrived and at the end of Act 2 there wasn't a dry eye in my vicinity. The children both delivered a fantastic performance. Valjean was great, but Javert was exceptional. The Thenardiers were one of the most entertaining cast yet, Madame Thenardier really puts a funny spin on the role without being too in your face. Lucie Jones as Fantine is right up there with Ruthie Henshall. Nathania Ong as Eponine was incredible, another worthy successor to famous Eponines like Lea Salonga. Very pleased to see that with all the modern productions in the WestEnd, this one kept its originality and they have not amended lines. Especially loved how the actors have moved and (seemingly) improvised confidently, for instance the hug between Valjean and the Bishop at the end. Loved the visual side too. The sewers were mesmerisingly done, and the balcony setup for Marius/Cosette was a very nicely designed set. All in all, the set design was marvellous. In terms of lyrics, the only thing they removed was the second verse of Castle on the Cloud, and I have seen this removed before, probably because of a reasonably inexperienced child actor, it was no big deal. Despite some comments claiming below, the closing line "to love another person is to see the face of God" is NOT removed, it is, thankfully, sung in all its tearjerking glory. All in all, an absolute perfect production, worth every single penny and I cannot wait to go back. Bring tissues. read less
7/18/2023
5 star ratingPerfect evening! Amazing performance. Perfect performance from start to finish - very moving. Acting, singing & orchestra were exceptional. I have seen a performance when on your a number of years ago... read moreAmazing performance. Perfect performance from start to finish - very moving. Acting, singing & orchestra were exceptional. I have seen a performance when on your a number of years ago but this performance exceeded expectations. I wish we could return again every night!! Theatre was smaller than I expected but amazing service & very comfortable. We pre ordered drink’s & merchandise both before the performance as well as the interval to save time queuing - this was the right thing to do as queues were large but service did appear to be quick. Greeted warmly by all staff who were available to answer questions as required read less
7/08/2023
5 star ratingdo not miss full theatre, good performance, ticket is not expensive. Eponi is brilliant, but all other caracters are also enjoyable.
7/06/2023
5 star ratingFabulous I had waited a long time to see the show and it didn't disappoint. It was amazing staging, acting, singing and I was truly immersed. It was emotional and truly amazing.
7/03/2023
4 star ratingSlightly disappointed unfortunately. Having first seen Les Mis twice before, the first one was at the Palace Theatre, massive production and stage that did it credit, the second and this one at the... read moreHaving first seen Les Mis twice before, the first one was at the Palace Theatre, massive production and stage that did it credit, the second and this one at the Sondheim. It was obvious from the previous ones the cast has been cut. They are still the best on the theatre stage but without the revolving stage and bigger sets it lacks drama. The finale without all the flags and cast members that were in the previous productions, spoilt it for me. Also the lady playing Cosette had a very reedy scow white voice and her dialogue was hard to understand. Still worth seeing though but bring back the drama of the earlier shows. The orchestra is amazing . read less
6/18/2023
5 star ratingRemains great Saw it first year and whilst this smaller production lacked the power of the barricades the sensitive stuff was better, well staged and a great show
6/13/2023
5 star ratingNot enough superlatives to describe this performance Amazing, brilliant, spellbinding and totally enjoyable from start to finish. The cast were fantastic and the performance from Valjean, Josh Pitterman, was outstanding and not a single note was... read moreAmazing, brilliant, spellbinding and totally enjoyable from start to finish. The cast were fantastic and the performance from Valjean, Josh Pitterman, was outstanding and not a single note was out of tune. Javert was a close second and his death scene was extraordinary. The rest of the cast were excellent too and the scenery was really innovative. The audience was mesmerised by the whole performance and the cast deserved the total standing ovation they received. I cried, I laughed and I held my breath in parts and wanted to watch it from the beginning as soon as it ended, I will be going back again for seconds as it was so good. read less
5/31/2023
5 star ratingWow ! Speechless Hands down the best performance ever … and omg the voices … goosebumps .. I have never ever been glued to my chair , crying and laughing ..... read moreHands down the best performance ever … and omg the voices … goosebumps .. I have never ever been glued to my chair , crying and laughing .. i thought nothing can top Hamilton … well I literally thought I was in France and held my breath .. read less
5/26/2023
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CAST
CREATIVE

Cast and Creative

Cast

Jodie Nolan – Madame
Ava Brennan – Fantine
Cameron Burt – Feuilly
Christopher Jacobsen – Combeferre
Donald Craig Manuel – Bishop of Digne
Jon Robyns – Jean Valjean
David Thaxton – Javert
Gerard Carey – Thénardier
Robert Tripolino – Marius
Nathania Ong – Eponine
Josefina Gabrielle – Madame Thénardier
Jordan Shaw – Enjolras
Lulu-Mae Pears – Cosette
Emma Barr – Crone
Brad Barnley – Brujon
Hazel Baldwin – Swing
Mathew Dale – Swing

Creative

Cameron Mackintosh – Producer
Alain Boubil – Author/Dramatist
Claude-Michel Schonberg – Book & music
Herbert Kretzmer – Lyricist
Trevor Nunn – Adaption & direction
John Caird– adaption & direction
Christopher Key – Associate director
John Napier – Production designer
Andreane Neofitou – Costume designer

FAQ

FAQ

What songs are in Les Misérables?

“I Dreamed a Dream” – A powerful and emotional ballad sung by the character of Fantine. It is a song of hope and despair, reflecting on the shattered dreams and the harsh realities of life.

“On My Own” – Poignant and heart-wrenching solo sung by the character of Eponine, reminiscing her unrequited love for Marius and her longing to be with him while also acknowledging the harsh reality that they will never be together.

“Bring Him Home” – An emotional plea sung by the character of Valjean that mirrors his deep love for his adopted son, Marius, and his strong desire to keep him safe and bring him back home during the turmoil of the student revolution in Paris. It also reflects on the themes of fatherhood, sacrifice and redemption.

“Do You Hear the People Sing?” – A mighty, anthemic song that symbolizes hope and unity for the characters and people. It is an expression of their desire for freedom and a better life.

“One Day More” – An energetic and dynamic song that serves as the climax to the end of the first act and reflects the conflicting emotions and decisions the characters are facing.

“Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” – Marius sings a mournful song as he reflects on the friends he lost during the revolution.

“Master of the House” – A lively and entertaining contrast to the other more severe and emotional songs in the musical and portrays the dark side of human nature.

“Who Am I?” – The song expresses the inner turmoil of Valjean as he looks back on his years as a prisoner and his new life as a wealthy businessman and mayor.

What are 10 interesting facts about Les Mis?

1. Les Miserables is one of the longest-running musicals in London’s West End, having opened in 1985 and still showing at the Sondheim Theatre. It has been seen by over 70 million people worldwide and continues to bring joy to audiences today.

2. The original cast for Les Miserables included Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, Patti LuPone as Fantine, Roger Allam as Javert, Michael Ball as Marius, Rebecca Caine as Cosette, and Alun Armstrong as Thénardier. This iconic cast was together for the first ten years after opening night.

3. The music for Les Miserables was composed by Claude-Michel Schonberg with lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. It was adapted from the original French text of Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel’s stage adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel of the same name.

4. In 2012, a new production opened in London’s West End that featured 3D-like projections on a cinematic screen to create the Paris sewers scenes and other immersive moments during the show.

5. This new production also featured changes to some of the song arrangements and saw a complete recasting of its principal roles, including Ramin Karimloo taking over from Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, Alfie Boe as Javert and Carrie Hope Fletcher replacing Rebecca Caine as Cosette.

6. To date, Les Miserables has won over 100 awards internationally, including an Olivier Award for Best Musical in 1985 and 8 Tony Awards on Broadway in 1987, including Best Musical.

7. The musical is regularly performed at special events such as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Concert, where Alfie Boe reprised his role of Jean Valjean before 70 million TV viewers worldwide.

8. As well as being seen in cinemas worldwide with two film adaptations (including a recent blockbuster movie starring Hugh Jackman), it is also making its mark online through virtual performances and broadcasts like back in October 2020 when various members of the original 1985 cast reunited virtually to perform ‘Do You Hear The People Sing?’.

9. One exciting fact about Les Miserables is that its leading roles are often played by multiple actors within each performance – something which makes it unique compared to many other musicals – due to its physical demand on these actors who need time to rest between shows.

10. Another unique aspect of this beloved musical is that it has been produced in 45 different countries worldwide, translated into 21 languages, and even recently adapted into a concert version with a limited run at Royal Albert Hall in 2019 featuring many famous faces.

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