Initial casting announced for Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular
You can hear the people sing in a massive arena this year
Last updated 12th Feb 2024
Les Misérables is getting the arena treatment with a worldwide tour announced by producers Cameron Mackintosh, in association with Nick Grace Management as the musical heads towards its 40th anniversary.
Cameron Mackintosh, in association with Nick Grace Management, have now announced that Alfie Boe and Killian Donnelly will share the role of Jean Valjean and Michael Ball and Bradley Jaden will share the role of Javert in the UK, leading a cast and orchestra of over 65 in the forthcoming World Tour of Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular opening at the SSE Arena Belfast on 19th September 2024. UK tour schedule below. Further casting to be announced soon.
Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular is set to open in Europe with UK dates set for September 2024. Other confirmed countries on the tour include Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea.
The arena tour will be expanded from the Les Misérables The Staged Concert which played for over 200 record-breaking performances in the West End a couple of years ago.
Producers have said that there will be new design specifically created for arenas (and large theatres) with audiences of between 3,000 – 5,000. It will feature a UK company of over 110 actors, musicians and crew featuring a core cast with a great number of celebrated Les Mis guest stars appearing as their schedules allow.
Les Misérables tour dates:
2024
19th - 28th September: SSE Arena, Belfast
3rd - 6th October: SSE Hydro, Glasgow
10th - 13th October: Utilita Arena, Sheffield
17th - 20th October: P&J Live, Aberdeen
25th - 27th October: Rockhal, Luxembourg
7th - 11th November: Teatro Stabile Del FVG, Trieste
14th - 24th November: Teatro Arcimboldi, Milan
5th - 8th December: Oslo Spektrum, Oslo
26tth - 29th December: AO Arena, Manchester
2025
2nd - 5th January: Utilita Arena, Newcastle
More worldwide destinations are yet to be announced.
You can sign up to find out about priority tickets online.
Take a look at these musicals that brought history to the stage:
Treason The Musical
Treason the musical drama is based on the events of the 1605 Gunpowder plot. Following the events leading up to it and the ultimate failure of the plot. The musical boasts a folk and pop medley and explores themes of love, secrecy, and the revolution. With an online concert in 2021 and two sold out concerts and an album featuring Lucie Jones and Carrie Hope Fletcher the production is now embarking on its world premiere in later 2023.
Hamilton
This musical takes place in 1780's onward and tells us the story of one of the founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton as he helps shape the United States of America. It opened on Broadway August 6th 2015 and has been breaking records ever since, being nominated for 16 Tony's and winning 11 as well as a Pulitzer prize and 7 Olivier awards too! A filmed version of the production was released on Disney + in 2020.
Six
A pop hit; this musical follows the lives of Henry the VIII's six wives. They each take centre stage to show who they truly are after living under their infamous husband's shadow. This all-female cast and band was a hit, first premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017. Six is now a Tony-winning musical entertaining audiences in the West-End, on Broadway and beyond.
Allegiance
A true story based on George Takei's life. Taking place in America 1941-2001, Allegiance explores a family's journey during World War II and their experience in the Japanese internment camps. The family struggles with their opposing views of America when anti-Japanese sentiments sweep across the country after Pearl Harbour. The musical run on Broadway from October 2015 to February 2016 and came to London in January 2023.
Diana, The Musical
Based on the life of Princess Diana, at 19 she was engaged and introduced to the Royal Family and thrusted into the spotlight at a young age. Directed by Christopher Ashley and written by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan, the production opened on Broadway November 2021 but closed just over a month later, however it is still available to watch on Netflix.
Evita
The iconic and hard to believe story of Eva Perón was immortalised in the musical Evita. Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, Evita follows the life of Argentine political figure Eva Perón the wife of Juan Perón. Showing early life in which, she was raised in a poor family to her rise to power and ultimately her death in 1952. The musical started as a concept album in 1976 before opening in the West End in 1978 wining an Olivier Award for best musical, subsequently opening on Broadway a year later in 1979.
Newsies
Starting as a film Newsies is based on the Newsboys strike of 1899 which took place in New York. The protagonist Jack Kelly and his group of work friends take on different publishers fighting for equality and justice. The film was released 1992 with the Broadway adaptation premiering in 2012 and its London debut in 2022.
Come From Away
Although the events in the musical are fictionalised Come From Away inspired by the events that took place during the attacks of 9/11 when 38 planes were ordered to land unexpectedly in the town of Gander in Newfoundland, Canada and how the town rallied together to help the stranded travellers. The hit musical opened on Broadway in 2017 and then opened in the West End in 2019 where it picked up four Olivier Awards. The Broadway production was filmed and can be streamed on Apple TV+.
Read more:
.Watch Frozen's Samantha Barks sing 'Dangerous to Dream' in new video
Wicked movie: Everything you need to know