Fifty million, and rising, delighted by Les Miserables musical

The Les Miserables West End show celebrated the 21st anniversary of its opening in October 2006, and has become the longest running London theatre show in history. It is very probably the world's most popular musical, having been seen by over fifty million people worldwide, in thirty-eight countries and in twenty-one languages.

The Les Miserables London adaptation of the Victor Hugo novel immediately captured the imagination and enthusiasm of the theatre-going public. Set in 19th century France, the dramatic score includes the songs On My Own, One Day More, and Do You Hear The People Sing?

There have been thirty-one cast recordings of the Les Miserables show, including the multi-platinum London cast album and the Grammy Award-winning Broadway cast, and complete symphonic albums. The video of the tenth Anniversary Royal Albert Hall Gala Concert has sold well over one million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling musical videos in the UK.

The Cameron Mackintosh/Royal Shakespeare Company production Les Miserables by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg has lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and music by Claude-Michel Schonberg, with original text by Alain Boublil and additional material by James Fenton. The show is adapted and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird.

The story
The Les Miserables musical tells the story of Jean Valjean over the course of a decade in early 19th century France. Valjean has a criminal record and finds life impossible with his parole note and shackles preventing him finding work. He assumes a new identity but is pursued by Javert, a relentless police inspector. His story is intertwined with that of the ill-fated Fantine and her sick daughter Cosette, and other characters caught up in the struggle for freedom in the era of mass lower class oppression in France.

Bookings
An intense experience not to be missed - for Les Miserable theatre tickets click through to our Les Miserables Tickets London page, for the best seats at the Queen's Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue.