There are few theatrical experiences as culturally entrenched, or emotionally enduring as Les Miserables. Yet even after decades of triumphs and countless stagings, this Arena Spectacular manages to shake off familiarity and strike at the heart. This isn’t merely Les Miserables on a grand scale; it’s Les Miserables reimagined as a profound and resonant declaration of love, loss, and revolution.
This exceptional production, merges traditional concert elements with fully staged theatrical ones. The ICC Theatre arena becomes a cathedral of song, where thousands are immersed not only in a tale of revolution but in the enduring power of live performance.
Featuring a full-scale orchestra, this production places a strong emphasis on vocal artistry and musical power, prioritizing these elements over elaborate scene changes and choreography. The result is an epic yet beautifully intimate experience that fully captures the essence of the original theatrical production. It showcases Claude-Michel Schonberg’s music and Herbert Kretzmer’s lyrics in their most powerful and emotive form.
This is vocal majesty in its purest form—epic, commanding, and utterly untouchable. The marvellous Alfie Boe’s Jean Valjean possesses a quiet, wounded dignity that bursts into emotional ferocity. His “Bring Him Home” is not just a showstopper, it's a benediction. Les Miserables royalty Michael Ball, the original Javert, returns with thunderous precision. His performance is a masterclass of control, his voice a towering wall of moral certainty that slowly, achingly begins to crumble.
Shan Ako as Eponine transcends mere performance. She is both fragile and fierce, embodying this duality with remarkable skill. Her voice, rich and soulful, threads every note with yearning and defiance. Jac Yarrow’s Marius is youthful and broken-hearted with a lovely restraint that echoes Beatrice Penny-Toure’s luminous turn as Cossette—her sweet, soaring soprano carrying both purity and pathos. Rachelle Ann Go’s rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” resonates powerfully, filling the vast arena with a voice that is both delicate and commanding, drawing thunderous applause.
Stepping in for Marina Prior at the eleventh hour, —who lost her voice just before opening night — Helen Walsh delivered a wonderful performance as Madame Thenardier: gritty, comedically assured, bouncing beautifully off Matt Lucas’s exuberant and crafty turn as her husband and partner in crime. The ensemble is astonishing — a mass of sound and movement that hits like a tidal wave in “One Day More” and raises goosebumps in “Do You Hear the People Sing?”
Visually, the production leans into cinematic grandeur. The creative team rises to the scale of the arena with stunning lighting that sculpts the space in both shadow and glow. Evocative projections add depth and texture, immersing the audience in the world. Massive LED screens shift fluidly, transitioning from towering barricades to intimate character portraits, capturing every emotional nuance.
What also sets this production apart is the ICC Theatre itself — not just a larger venue, but a space that amplifies the scale and emotion of the story. The moments of stillness and silence are deafening in their intensity, just as the thunderous, full-cast crescendos and sweeping anthems shake the very air. There’s an intimacy in that scale — a paradox where the enormity draws us closer, reminding us that Les Miserables is not just a personal journey, but a shared one.
The direction by James Powell and Jean-Pierre van der Spuy maintains a brisk, purposeful rhythm without sacrificing introspection and pause. The central theme of redemption remains strong and unwavering throughout, consistently resonating with the audience as the characters' journeys unfold.
The opening night audience was treated to a jaw-dropping surprise that will be talked about for years to come. Original cast members returned to the stage —graciously introduced by Alain Boublil himself — for an unforgettable reprise of “One Day More.” This was met with an overwhelming swell of recognition and pure joy that resonated through the entire arena.
Les Miserables Arena Spectacular goes beyond mere reawakening or revival; it's a bold, breathtaking, and brilliantly staged testament to the remarkable power of storytelling that moves not only mountains, but also the hearts of those who witness it. It's more than a pleasure to be in the audience - it's a privilege. Don't miss it!
Playing at ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tue 06 May 2025 - Sun 11 May 2025
Reviewed by Faith Jessel