Les Misérables staged West End concert to be released online to fundraise for NHS and arts charities

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An all-star staged concert version of Les Misérables will be available to watch online from tomorrow.

A recording of the West End production, which ran at the Gielgud Theatre last year , will be available for digital download with funds going to a number of charities supporting the NHS and theatre industry.

Alfie Boe, Michael Ball, Matt Lucas and Carrie Hope Fletcher were among the cast members who performed in the show, which took place while the long-running production underwent a major refurbishment. It reopened in December last year in the newly renamed Sondheim Theatre .

The performance will be available to download for £9.99, with a specially-created mini-documentary featuring backstage footage and the cast talking about their memories of the show.

The show’s producer Cameron Mackintosh announced that for every download, his foundation would separately donate £5 to be shared among the Acting For Others charity, the Musicians Union Coronavirus Hardship Fund and Captain Tom Moore’s Walk for the NHS fund. He has launched the fundraising today by donating £100,000 from his foundation.

Michael Ball performs as Javert in the staged concert production of Les Mis
Matt Murphy

He said: “In these extraordinary times we hope that fans and everyone who loves the theatre will be reminded of how special a theatrical experience can be, going to the very heart of our British culture, which make our nation so special and unique.

“I am exceptionally proud of everyone involved in the making of the concert and very much hope my foundation will be able to help raise a considerable amount of money for these deserving charities.”

It was also confirmed that "plans are in place" for the show to reopen in the autumn when the lockdown is over and government guidance on social distancing is relaxed.

With a record-breaking run of 35 years, Les Misérables is the longest-running show in London’s West End. The staged concert had a sold-out run for 16 weeks, with demand so high that the ticket-booking site crashed.

Many have turned to the show's famous score for comfort during the coronavirus crisis. A family in Kent went viral after writing their own version of One Day More, while West End supergroup The Barricade Boys released their own version of Bring Him Home in tribute to the NHS.

The theatres may be closed but audiences are enjoying culture online in huge numbers, with over 6 million tuning in to watch a livestream of The Phantom of the Opera in just 24 hours.

Les Misérables - The Staged Concert will be available to download tomorrow from lesmis.com/concert

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