Les Misérables: Forty Years On, Still a Defining West End Experience

Review at a glance: ★★★★☆

If London were to have a “To Be a Local” bucket list, seeing Les Misérables would almost certainly be tucked somewhere between getting a salt beef bagel on Brick Lane and grabbing the night bus home at an ungodly hour with a kebab in one hand and a vape in the other. It has happened to the best of us.

A show that has just celebrated its 40th anniversary in London, and stands proudly among the plethora of flashing billboards on Shaftesbury Avenue, has to be special. Even if a Londoner is not particularly well versed in theatre, at some point they will have walked past the doors of the Sondheim Theatre on their way to Chinatown or up Wardour Street.

Going into the performance completely blind, I have to be honest, I was not expecting a two hour and thirty minute musical. But for those of you who are musical averse, this is the show that would most likely change your mind.

The story follows Jean Valjean, a former convict who, after breaking parole, spends his life trying to redeem himself through kindness. His journey is shadowed by Inspector Javert, a man defined by law, order and absolute justice, who believes Valjean can never escape his past. The tension between them drives the story, setting compassion against rigidity, mercy against punishment.

As Valjean builds a new life and becomes a father figure to Cosette, Javert’s pursuit grows increasingly obsessive, forcing both men to confront what justice truly means. Set against a backdrop of poverty, social inequality and the Paris uprising, their struggle becomes not just personal but philosophical, questioning whether people are capable of change or forever bound by their mistakes.

The singing is truly memorable, to the point that I am certain most people in attendance would have found themselves humming “Do You Hear the People Sing” on the way to work the next morning.

The passion and energy of the cast ring home more than ever, especially considering what is currently happening on the other side of the pond. This is a story about resistance, power and fighting back, regardless of the outcome.

The stage production, however, was the standout for me. Over the last few months, I have attended a variety of performances with impressive sets, but this was the first time I fully appreciated how a stage can be used to denote time while guiding the audience through the story. It was as immersive as it was spectacular. This is the kind of production you would return to just to understand how it works.

With some exceptional solo performances throughout, I could not recommend Les Misérables more.

Liked this? Check out our review of All My Sons