Les Miserables at 40: The Story Behind the Show

Les Miserables opened in London on 8 October 1985 and has been playing in the West End ever since, making it the longest-running musical in the world. In February 2026, the production reached its 16,000th performance at the Sondheim Theatre. Here is the story of how a show that was savaged by critics became one of the most enduring pieces of musical theatre ever staged.

From Paris to London

The journey of Les Miserables to the West End began in France. Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg first adapted Victor Hugo's 1862 novel into a sung-through musical in French, which premiered at the Palais des Sports in Paris in September 1980. That production ran for three months and was seen by over 500,000 people, but it did not transfer.

It was the British producer Cameron Mackintosh who saw the potential for an English-language version. Working with directors Trevor Nunn and John Caird, and with new English lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, Les Miserables was reimagined for the Royal Shakespeare Company. The show began previews at London's Barbican Centre on 28 September 1985, with an official opening night on 8 October.

The Critics and the Audience

The opening night reviews were, by most accounts, terrible. Critics at the time described the show in unflattering terms, with one calling it "lurid Victorian melodrama." The general critical consensus was that a three-hour, entirely sung musical about poverty, revolution and redemption in nineteenth-century France was not going to work.

The audience had other ideas. Word of mouth built quickly, and the show transferred from the Barbican to the Palace Theatre in the West End on 4 December 1985. It would remain at the Palace for nearly two decades before moving to its current home, the Queen's Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, now renamed the Sondheim Theatre.

The Original Cast

The original London cast featured Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, Roger Allam as Javert, Patti LuPone as Fantine, Alun Armstrong as Thenardier, and a then-relatively unknown Michael Ball as Marius. Ball's performance of Empty Chairs at Empty Tables helped establish him as a leading man in musical theatre, and he has been associated with the show ever since.

LuPone won the Olivier Award for her performance as Fantine, though the show itself lost the Best New Musical award to Me and My Girl. The musical fared better on Broadway, where it opened in March 1987 at the Broadway Theatre and went on to win eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

The Story That Endures

Les Miserables tells the story of Jean Valjean, a convict who, after 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread, is released and inspired by an act of mercy to rebuild his life. He is pursued across the decades by the relentless police inspector Javert. Woven through the central pursuit is the story of the single mother Fantine, her daughter Cosette, and the idealistic students who take to the barricades in the failed June Rebellion of 1832.

The score is one of the most recognisable in musical theatre. I Dreamed a Dream, One Day More, Bring Him Home and Do You Hear the People Sing have all become standards performed well beyond the context of the show. The themes of justice, redemption, poverty and love remain as relevant now as they were in Hugo's novel or in the 1985 production.

Four Decades of Evolution

While the core production has remained consistent, Les Miserables has evolved over the decades. A significant restaging in 2009 introduced new set designs and a more filmic visual style, replacing elements of the original John Napier staging while keeping the emotional heart of the piece intact.

The 2012 film adaptation, directed by Tom Hooper and starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway and Eddie Redmayne, brought the story to millions of new viewers. Hathaway won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Fantine, and the film was nominated for eight Oscars in total.

The show's 40th anniversary was celebrated in October 2025 with a special gala performance at the Sondheim Theatre. A specially assembled anniversary cast performed for eight weeks, featuring performers drawn from the show's West End, international and film history. Alongside the West End celebration, the Les Miserables Arena Spectacular, a large-scale touring concert version, has been travelling the world, playing to arena-sized audiences.

Seeing Les Miserables Today

Les Miserables continues to play at the Sondheim Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue. The current booking period extends through to autumn 2026. For the latest cast information and availability, check the Les Miserables page on BritishTheatre.com or book tickets through tickadoo.

The show runs at approximately two hours and 50 minutes, including an interval. It is generally considered suitable for audiences aged around 8 and above, though younger children may find the length and some of the darker themes challenging.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long has Les Miserables been running in the West End? Les Miserables opened in London on 8 October 1985 and has been playing continuously since (with a temporary closure during the pandemic in 2020-2021). It is now in its 41st year, making it the longest-running musical in the world.

Where is Les Miserables playing in London? The Sondheim Theatre (formerly the Queen's Theatre) on Shaftesbury Avenue. The nearest tube station is Piccadilly Circus.

How long is Les Miserables? The show runs for approximately two hours and 50 minutes, including one interval.

Who wrote Les Miserables? The musical has music by Claude-Michel Schonberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer (based on original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel), and a book by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg. It is based on the novel by Victor Hugo.

Was the Les Miserables film based on the musical? Yes. The 2012 film directed by Tom Hooper used the musical's songs and structure, with a cast including Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Eddie Redmayne.