Les Misérables- Let The people Sing!

Given the opportunity to showcase the talent in Scotland, the Lyric Club in collaboration with Pantheon Club, PMOS, GLOC and Theatre South brought the UK Amateur Premiere of Les Misérables to The King’s Theatre in Glasgow.  As part of the UK wide Let The People Sing! by special arrangement with Cameron Mackintosh and Music Theatre International, this opportunity was given in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the legendary musical. Taking on a production of any scale requires planning, commitment and creativity and this one was no different. There was a rigorous audition process, which resulted in an extremely talented cast of principals and ensemble, including a show choir. We were given the opportunity to witness the talents from not only Glasgow, but wider afield, experiencing many stand out performances. It is fair to say that many of the performers trained professionally or are heading off to pursue a professional career in theatre, and we got the pleasure of witnessing their talents. From the opening of the show to the final closing note this iconic musical was layered with depth, heart and soul. Individual principal performances were of an extremely high standard with each performer displaying their own characters with passion and thought. Layered throughout this was a very supportive ensemble cast who both collectively and individually displayed great characterisation throughout the production.  

The creative team of Catriona Cumming, Director, Lynne Bustard, Choreographer, and Musical Director, Kieran Young are no strangers to the theatre in Glasgow and beyond, and the production detail, stylised staging and choreography, and musicality shone through. The music from the orchestra was well balanced and the vocals from both a principal and ensemble perspective were well controlled with excellent vocal harmonies and dynamics. Set design by Challum Brown, a recent graduate from RCS was exceptional and brought a special edge to the overall production. I’m sure we will see much more of Challum’s work in the future. The lighting was spectacular and sympathetic, and the balance of sound was excellent. Wardrobe, make-up and hair are such an important element of the creative aspect of a production and the result of the hard work of this team added to the already established excellence of the production. There were many stand out moments experienced by the audience, and it was a great pleasure to witness this piece of history in amateur theatre in one of our iconic Glasgow theatres. This theatre that holds great memories for many involved in amateur theatre, and is a wonderful theatre for staging such a fabulous performance.

It was a great pleasure to be in the audience and to appreciate the work and commitment put into this flawless production. Many thanks for your hospitality at your gala performance, the buzz around the theatre that evening was great.

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