Four Cornwall theatre groups have been given the honour of performing one of just ten special Les Mis anniversary concerts.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of 'Les Mis', special concerts titled "Les Misérables: Let the People Sing" will take place in venues across the UK next year.
Helston Theatre Company (HTC), Redruth Amateur Musical and Pantomime Society (RAMPS), Truro Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (TAODS), and St Austell Amateur Operatic Society will collaborate on the project, with HTC being the primary producer for the Cornish production.
However, HTC is also inviting other amateur theatre companies in Cornwall to audition.
An HTC representative said: "We would also like to reinforce the message that MTI has asked that there be three collaborating companies, but that participation in the production is available to the wider amateur theatre community.
"Therefore, auditions will be open, and not just restricted to ourselves and the collaborating societies."
The nationwide project, titled ‘Let the People Sing’, is an initiative from Cameron Mackintosh and Music Theatre International (MTI), the rights holders for ‘Les Misérables.” The project will see eleven amateur societies leading productions in their respective areas, collaborating with other local groups to create truly community-based productions.
Sean Gray, managing director of MTI’s London Office said: “MTI cherishes our amateur theatre companies. They bring our musicals to the whole country, including to towns and areas not regularly visited by national touring productions.
“They nurture and develop talent in a unique and invaluable way, as well as providing opportunities for everyone who loves performing and making theatre to be a part of productions on all the country’s stages.
“Many of the great shows live on in amateur productions, often decades after their initial productions in the West End or on Broadway.”
However, Sean added that despite MIT licensing thousands of productions of Les Misérables’s School Edition to schools and youth groups, it hasn’t been possible to offer the show to major amateur companies.
“But for one year, we’re thrilled to have this opportunity to invite amateur theatre companies across the UK to produce 11 local productions, which we hope will be genuine local community projects," he said.
“We already know how much excitement the project will generate, and we are looking forward to guiding everyone towards a great national amateur celebration of Les Miserable in 2025 to mark the 40th anniversary of the London production.”
The full Les Misérables: Let the People Sing project will run from March to August 2025 and will feature productions in Belfast, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham, Norwich, Porthcurno (the Minack Theatre), and Swansea.
The production will come to the Minack Theatre between May 25 and 30, 2025.
Specific audition dates and further information will be released at a local level in due course.
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