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Les Misérables is a sensation on both Broadway
and in the West End. The Norfolk Youth Music Theatre (NYMT)
now hopes it will receive as much critical acclaim in Norwich.
Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's
score, filled with popular works such as On My Own and One
Day More - combined with Victor Hugo's classic novel of a
student uprising in pre-revolutionary France - provides a
compelling tale that continues to thrill audiences.
The story tells of one man's survival in
the face of relentless persecution and the triumph of the
human spirit.
Set amidst the social and political struggles
of 19th century France, the musical sweeps its audience through
a tale of passion and destruction against a backdrop of a
nation in the grip of revolution.
NYMT's artistic director, Adrian Connell,
has wanted to stage Les Misérables for some time.
"Right from the beginning the kids knew
everything about the show. I've never seen a script in anyone's
hand for rehearsals. The set and props are done and it's all
ready to go into the theatre. I'm very pleased," he said.
"We started with
five weeks of music rehearsals, then we did the floor rehearsals
around the beginning of March. We've been rehearsing three
times a week for around 12 hours in total. That's a lot of
rehearsal time," he added.
The cast
Aged between nine and 19 years old, the cast
of more than 40 actors come from all over Norfolk. Back in
January, more than 100 young people auditioned for a part
in the show.
Nineteen-year-old Joe Ringer from Costessey,
takes the role of Jean Valjean, the reformed criminal teamed
against his arch enemy Inspector Javert, played by 17-year-old
Jack Ollett, from Beccles.
Robert Heard, from Aldborough, and Becky
Humphreys, from Norwich, both aged 18, play the wicked Thenardiers.
"My character is so wicked, and so really
great fun to do. I always seem to get these sort of parts,
it's not typecasting I don't think! Overall, the rehearsals
so far have been tough but fun," said Becky.
Eloise Secker, from Brooke, is cast as the
strong-willed Eponine.
Cosette, Eponine and Marius |
"I am really pleased to have got the role,
it's something every female interested in musical theatre
wants to play," she said.
"I'm really enjoying it and feel very
close to Eponine as a character. The whole production is going
to be exciting and we have a super cast," she added.
At a production cost of more than £14,000
- with just days to go before the opening night - Adrian Connell
is happy with how things are going.
"The show has attracted good singers
from lots of other youth groups to come into this. I'm feeling
very confident about the whole project," he said.
The performance of Les Misérables
is at The Playhouse Theatre in Norwich from Tuesday 5 - Saturday
9 April, 2005. For tickets call the box office on 01603 598598.
Review:
Les Misérables
Review:
NYMT Once Upon A War
Review:
Bugsy Malone
April
2005: Shell Connections drama festival
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