London's long-running Les Misérables is celebrating its 40th anniversary by welcoming back a host of the production's alumni for a special finale at an October 8 gala performance at the Sondheim Theatre. Among those scheduled to participate are Patti LuPone, Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Samantha Barks, Matt Lucas, Frances Ruffelle, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Gerónimo Rauch, Jeremy Secomb, and Bonnie Langford. All told, the finale will feature a company of nearly 100. Proceeds from the special performance will benefit The Felix Project and UKHarvest, both of whom fight against food insecurity in the U.K.
LuPone, a three-time Tony winner for her Broadway work in Evita, Gypsy, and Company, created the role of Fantine in the musical's original London company, but did not reprise her performance when it transferred to Broadway—although her "I Dreamed a Dream" has long been one of her standards in concert performances.
At least 500 tickets for the special performance will be made available to the public, alongside Platinum Anniversary tickets that include pre- and post-show hospitality at the theatre and a limited-edition print. Those interested in getting tickets can sign up for further information on a pre-sale at DelfontMackintosh.co.uk by 4 PM BT September 18. General sales will begin at 1 PM BT September 19.
The bulk of the performance will feature a previously announced 40th anniversary cast drawn from West End, international, film Arena Spectacular, and world tour casts. Performing September 8-November 1, that group includes Killian Donnelly as Jean Valjean, Bradley Jaden as Javert, Katie Hall as Fantine, Jac Yarrow as Marius, Shan Ako as Éponine, Jordan Shaw as Enjolras, Beatrice Penny-Touré as Cosette, Adam Gillen as Thénardier, and Marina Prior as Madame Thénardier. Ian McIntosh is playing Valjean at certain performances.
The company is completed by Hollie Aires, Aidan Banyard, Ella May Carter, Nicholas Carter, Matthew Dale, Irfan Damani, Lila Falce-Bass, Sophie-May Feek, Jessica Johns-Parsons, Seán Keany, Chris Kiely, Sam Kipling, Mia Lamb, Sarah Lark, Ollie Llewelyn-Williams, Matthew McConnell, Aaron-Jade Morgan, Adam Pearce, William Pennington, Jordan Simon Pollard, Lewis Renninson, Danielle Rose, Georgia Tapp, Noah Thallon, Imaan Victoria, and Danny Whelan.
“It is an extraordinary feeling to be celebrating our 40th Anniversary of Les Misérables on London’s Shaftesbury Avenue," says producer Cameron Mackintosh in a statement. "Having staged several of our other milestone performances in iconic venues like the Royal Albert Hall for our 10th or the O2 Arena for our 25th, I wanted to bring this special celebration home back to its roots, in the theatre, where the British version first started at the Barbican in October 1985.
"Unlike any other musical in history, Les Misérables has continuously triumphed in, not one, but two different and equally successful stagings of the musical, a hugely successful Oscar-winning movie, and spectacular staged concerts in both vast arenas and theatres around the world. Victor Hugo’s creation has proved to have no bounds, continuing to reach new corners of the Earth, playing to different races in their own languages, swept along by Boublil and Schönberg’s inspirational musical score. The reaction of the audience, wherever they are on the planet, is always uplifting; just as Victor Hugo hoped it would be when he first published the novel in 1845. Wouldn’t I love to be around for that bi-centennial!
"So, for our actual anniversary on October 8th, I am thrilled that our wonderful company will be joined for one night only by some of our most celebrated, ever-growing family of alumni from the last 40 years in a special finale. We are limited by the 1,100-seat capacity of the Sondheim Theatre and the number of guests who have been involved in Les Mis over the past four decades, but we wanted to make at least 500 tickets available to fans.
"This country, like many other parts of the world, continue to face the critical issues at the core of Victor Hugo’s story: hunger and poverty. So, everybody involved in Les Misérables wished to donate all the proceeds of what promises to be an extraordinary evening to two charities that continually fight to end hunger in England by redistributing fresh and healthy food to those in need: The Felix Project and UKHarvest.”
Les Misérables has been seen by over 130 million people worldwide in 55 countries, 452 cities, and has been translated into 22 languages. It has won over 180 major awards around the world, including 4 Olivier Awards (including a special recognition award in April 2025), 8 Tony Awards, and 5 Helpmann Awards; the movie won 3 Oscars.
Watch Brand-New Trailer for West End's Les Misérables
This production officially opened January 16, 2020, following previews that began December 18, 2019.
Les Misérables is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg and is based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It has music by Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, additional material by James Fenton, and an adaptation by Trevor Nunn and John Caird.
Directed by James Powell and Laurence Connor, the Mackintosh production also features orchestrations by Stephen Metcalfe, Christopher Jahnke, and Stephen Brooker with original orchestrations by John Cameron, designs by Matt Kinley (inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo), costumes by Andreane Neofitou and Christine Rowland, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Mick Potter, musical staging by Michael Ashcroft and Geoffrey Garratt, and music supervision by Stephen Brooker and Alfonso Casado Trigo.
Stewart Clarke in Les Misérables
Robson Broad and company of Les Misérables
Luke Kempner and company of Les Misérables
Katie Hall in Les Misérables
Ian McIntosh in Les Misérables
Annabelle Aquino, Amena El Kindy, and Jacob Dachtler in Les Misérables
Amena El Kindy in Les Misérables
