Les Misérables: The Arena Spectacular

Overview

Musicals don't get much bigger than Les Misérables. That's been evident on the stage for more than four decades. When the production has been adapted for the screen, too, it's also been clear. In Australia, next comes Les Misérables: The Arena Spectacular, which is putting on a show set in 19th-century France from May 2025 in the Victorian capital.

Do you hear the people sing? Audiences in Melbourne will when the production gets the music of the people, plus the songs of angry men, echoing. From Wednesday, May 14–Friday, May 23, a stacked cast and a 65-plus-piece orchestra is bringing Les Misérables: The Arena Spectacular to life at Rod Laver Arena, with the format heading Down Under after playing the UK and across Europe.

What makes this an arena spectacular, other than the venues that it's playing (including in Sydney and Brisbane, too)? The production isn't just taking the stage iteration of Les Misérables as is to sizeable sites — as a concert, it has been specifically created and designed for such locations.

Les Misérables: The Arena Spectacular was born to celebrate a hefty milestone for the song-filled theatre take on Victor Hugo's famous 1862 novel: the London production of Les Misérables reaching its 40th year in 2025. Yes, it's West End's longest-running musical. But the arena spectacular's origins hail back earlier, to not long after Les Mis debuted on the stage in 1980 — and also have ties to Australia.

In Australia, Les Misérables: The Arena Spectacular stars Tony-winner Alfie Boe and British talent Killian Donnelly sharing the role of Jean Valjean, with Michael Ball — who featured in the original London 1985 production — plus Bradley Jaden doing the same with Javert.

Marina Prior plays Madame Thénardier, as part of an international cast that also includes Little Britain's Matt Lucas as Thénardier, Rachelle Ann Go as Fantine, Jac Yarrow as Marius and Beatrice Penny-Touré as Cosette.

Images: Danny Kaan.