International NewsLondon Production of Les Misérables Will Temporarily Switch Theatres, Then Reopen With New VersionThe international hit musical will play its final performance at the Queen’s Theatre in July to allow refurbishments of the venue.
By
Andrew Gans
January 08, 2019
London's Queens Theatre
The original London production of Les Misérables will temporarily end its run at the Queen’s Theatre July 13.
The theatre, which opened in 1907, will close for four months of rebuilding work both backstage and in the auditorium; many new lavatories will also be added to the front of house. This work will restore architect W.G. Sprague’s original boxes and loges which, along with the entire front of house, were destroyed by a bomb in 1940 and caused the theatre to be closed for 20 years.
The restored Queen’s Theatre will reopen in December 2019 with the new production of Les Misérables that was created in 2009 for the musical's 25th anniversary in the U.K. and was subsequently seen on Broadway and around the world. A new company is now being put together; tickets will go on sale in February.
While the Queen’s Theatre is being restored, Les Misérables will continue in performance on Shaftesbury Avenue with a four-month season at the Gielgud Theatre beginning at the end of July.
Producer Cameron Mackintosh said in a statement, “I am continually amazed that Les Mis in its fourth decade continues to break new ground and new records. The show’s astonishing success is tribute to the story’s power to move and inspire which is at the heart of both the original novel and the musical. Tomorrow will always come for Les Mis!”
The original 1985 production of Les Misérables can now only be seen at the Queen’s Theatre, where it is still playing to 95 percent capacity; the musical previously played the Barbican and Palace Theatres.
Based on Victor Hugo's novel, Les Misérables has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, a book by Alain Boublil, Jean-Marc Natel, and Schönberg, and English lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer.
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