Michael Ball: Nothing compares to bringing Les Miserables back to West End stage

"Les Miserables: The Staged Concert" Returns To London's West End - Opening Night
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Bringing Les Miserables home to the West End after a nine-month hiatus marked the most “amazing” first night of Michael Ball’s career, the musical theatre veteran said.

The staged concert edition of Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil’s much-loved musical, opened at the Sondheim Theatre on Saturday night to a socially distanced crowd, after the show closed in March when the nation went into lockdown.

It features an all-star cast including Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean, Ball as his nemesis Javert and Matt Lucas as Thernadier.

“We’ve all been involved in amazing first nights but nothing compares to this,’ Ball told the audience after the curtain call was met with a standing ovation.

"Les Miserables: The Staged Concert" Returns To London's West End - Opening Night
Ball, centre, with co-stars Shan Ako, Matt Lucas and Alfie Boe
Dave Benett

Ball went on to note that Les Mis’s return to the London stage coincides with the 35th anniversary of the show’s West End debut, in which he originated the role of student revolutionary Marius.

“It’s 35 years to the night that we opened Les Mis at the Palace Theatre,” he added. “Les Mis has been running in Shaftesbury Avenue ever since then apart from a little break. It’s lovely to be back where we are meant to be.”

The show’s producer Cameron Mackintosh addressed the audience before the curtain lifted, praising the “incredible cast, amazing musicians and creative staff” for “bring[ing] back spectacular theatre to the West End at this time.”

"Les Miserables: The Staged Concert" Returns To London's West End - Opening Night
Matt Lucas and Katy Secombe as the Thernadiers
Dave Benett

“We have missed you, we have missed each other and we have missed working,” he said. “Many of these people [on stage] tonight have given up jobs stacking shelves, driving cards, being on building sites, their temporary jobs in order to come back and do this show.”

He noted that the production had “not had any help from the Treasury as yet.”

Mackintosh also paid tribute to the show’s English lyricist Herbert Kretzmer, who died in October aged 95.

“There is one person missing tonight who has never missed a first night before and that is our beloved Herbert Kretzmer, who wrote the wonderful English lyrics,” he said. “This one’s for you Herbie.”

The concert also sees Carrie Hope Fletcher reprise the role of Fantine, with Shan Ako as Eponine and Rob Houchen as Marius.

The show’s run was recently extended from eight to 12 weeks, following new government guidelines which requires theatres to restrict their capacity to a maximum of 50 percent.

Theatres are currently able to open with social distancing measures in place in Tier 2 areas.

Les Miserables: The Staged Concert is at the Sondheim Theatre until February 28, 2021.

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