Les Misérables, the global musical phenomenon, has arrived in Sydney in truly epic fashion as part of its 40th anniversary Arena Spectacular World Tour. Opening night at ICC Theatre confirmed that even after four decades, this story of justice, redemption and resistance can still stir the soul, especially when delivered on such an awe-inspiring scale.
When French literary master Victor Hugo published his novel in 1862, he likely never imagined it would one day become an epic musical. Yet his dark, gritty tale of injustice and revolution has proven to be the perfect inspiration for one.
Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Shönberg first adapted the novel as a French concept album in 1980. Sir Cameron Mackintosh discovered it in 1983, and deeply moved, he brought on Herbert Kretzmer to write the English lyrics. He enlisted Trevor Nunn and John Caird to direct, and the musical premiered in October 1985 at London’s Barbican Centre. The rest is history.
Now, forty years later, and after countless versions from stage to screen, the production returns in its biggest form yet: Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular. The World Tour began in Belfast in 2024, and Sydney marks the start of its Australian leg. With a 9,000-seat capacity, the ICC Sydney Theatre confirms we’re now firmly in the arena realm.
Entering the auditorium, it’s hard not to be struck by the scale and spectacle. The space is vast, but it’s the stage, an engineering marvel, that truly wows. The orchestra is fully visible, enhancing the grandeur and anticipation. On opening night, the theatre is full and the audience buzzes with excitement. Die-hard fans are eager to experience this bold new take. Others, like this masthead, can’t help but wonder: will the story’s subtlety survive such supersizing?
As the room goes dark, the sense of scale seems to shrink in an instant. From there, it’s the breathtaking lighting by Paule Constable and Warren Letton, paired with Matt Kinley’s ingenious stage design, that truly steals the show.
With clever lighting and a remarkable suspended roof, the stage expands and contracts, creating intimate spaces for delicate moments and breathtaking settings for the ensemble numbers.
As the first act builds, it’s hard to imagine how ‘One Day More’ could top what’s come before. But then, it does, culminating in a literal explosion of light. It’s a theatrical spectacle that defies description and simply must be seen to be believed.
Under James Powell and Jean-Pierre Van Der Spuy’s direction, all of the magic moments are there. No version of Les Misérables can truly succeed without a stellar cast, and this one delivers. From the moment each character steps on stage, it’s clear: every performer feels made for their role.
Javert and Valjean play a complex game of cat and mouse throughout the show, masterfully executed by West End veterans Michael Ball and Alfie Boe. They alternate roles with Bradley Jaden and Killian Donnelly across the run.
As Javert, Ball brings depth and the perfect amount of terror to the role. Boe commands the stage with quiet power, his rendition of ‘Bring Him Home’ a masterclass in vocal restraint. His performance left many in the audience visibly moved to tears.
It’s fair to say Les Mis is a weighty musical, heavy on drama and emotion. That’s why the arrival of the Thénardiers feels like such a delicious change of pace. Matt Lucas, a fan favourite since the 2010 concert version, plays Monsieur, while Helen Walsh (stepping in for Marina Prior on opening night) takes on Madame. Their rendition of ‘Master of the House’ is a show-stealer, full of energy, sharp comedic timing, and strong vocals. It’s a welcome relief to relax the zygomatic muscles as they bounce around the stage. Every time they reappear, however briefly, it’s a joy.
With such an iconic score, the pressure to deliver each number with power and precision is immense. This is especially true for Rachelle Ann Go as Fantine, with expectations sky-high for her rendition of ‘I Dreamed a Dream.’ She more than rises to the challenge, delivering the song with emotional depth and vocal agility.
As Éponine, Shan Ako sings ‘On My Own’ with crystal clear vocals, and it goes straight to the heart. Marius, played by Jac Yarrow, pairs perfectly with Beatrice Penny-Touré’s Cosette. Their voices complement each other and their love at first sight moment is convincing.
Alone on the stage, Yarrow has the audience gripped with his deeply moving rendition of ‘Empty Chairs At Empty Tables.’ As Enjolras, James D. Gish delivers a solid performance, bringing an on point fighting fire and flying through his songs with a terrific voice.
The children – a big part of the show – do not get lost on this massive stage but instead get to shine. Little Cosette, played by Alexandra Szewcow, captures the audience with ‘Castle On a Cloud.’ As Gavroche, Sebastian Sero instantly melts our hearts. His voice is pure and innocent and he navigates the giant stage with ease as he leads the beggars in ‘Look Down,’ followed by his solo, ‘Little People.’
Whether or not Victor Hugo would have approved, Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular is undeniably a must-see theatrical experience. Any fears about supersizing are swiftly put to rest; this is the most awe-inspiring version of the show to date. It’s a production that both honours and elevates the source material with great reverence.
That sense of tribute was even more powerful on opening night when Sir Cameron Mackintosh made a surprise appearance after the bows. He reunited members of the original Australian cast to join the current company in a moving rendition of ‘One Day More’. A fitting encore to a truly unforgettable evening. (The full list of the alumni who performed can be found below.)
Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular is on now for five weeks only touring Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Tickets: https://lesmisarenatour.com.au/tickets/sydney/
Website: https://lesmisarenatour.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/lesmisarenatourau/
Photo credits: Danny Kaan
List of Australian alumni cast who appeared onstage to sing One Day More:
Normie Rowe, Jean Valjean in the original 1987 production
Philip Quast, Javert in the 1987 production and the legendary 10th Anniversary Concert in London
William Zappa, Thénardier in the 1987 production
Lara Mulcahy, Madame Thénardier in the 1997 and 2014 productions
David Campbell, Marius in the 10th Anniversary production in 1995
Simon Burke, Marius in the 1987 production
Scott Irwin, Enjolras in the 10th Anniversary production in 1995
Nikki Webster, Little Cosette in the 1997 production
Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular Australian Tour Dates
Sydney 30 April – 11 May, ICC Sydney Theatre
Melbourne 14 May – 25 May, Road Laver Arena
Brisbane 28 May – 31 May, Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Share your thoughts
3 responses to “Review: Les Misérables A Revolution Reimagined In Spectacular Scale”
I loved it I cried all the way through it they did a fantastic job and I watched it when I got home and I still cried congratulations she did something real well
A brilliant show, saw it at the ICC last week, we enjoyed it immensely. We were so energised by the performance. Amazing singing!
Terrible. The acoustics at Rod Laver were awful, sounding flat with a lack of low frequency content; until the attack at the barricade, then it was an overwhelming distortion boom.
Refurb from the back of the venue was pronounced from solo performances.
I love Les Miserables, and have seen the 1990 and the 2014 performances, and this is by far the worst one. You wouldn’t go to the Princess theatre to watch the tennis, so don’t schedule musicals at the tennis centre; it just does not work.
Javier however was brilliant in his performance.