Preview: Les Misérables at Newcastle Theatre Royal

CAMERON MACKINTOSH’S ACCLAIMED BROADWAY PRODUCTION OF LES MISÉRABLES HEADS TO NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL

Les Misérables 
Newcastle Theatre Royal 
Thursday 15 August – Saturday 5 October 2019

Photo by Michael Le Poer Trench. Copyright CML

Cameron Mackintosh is delighted to announce that the internationally celebrated  Boublil and Schönberg musical Les Misérables will be coming to Newcastle Theatre Royal (Thursday 15 August – Saturday 5 October 2019) as part of its first UK tour in almost a decade with tickets set to go on sale in June 2018.

Photo by Michael Le Poer Trench. Copyright CML

Les Misérables marks a triumphant return to Newcastle Theatre Royal for Cameron Mackintosh following the hugely popular runs of Mary Poppins in 2016, Barnum in 2015 and Oliver! in 2012 and the epic eight week run will be one of the longest for a musical in the venue’s history.



The lead character of ‘Jean Valjean’ will be played by Killian Donnelly who is currently thrilling audiences in the role in the West End production.  Prior to his run in Les Misérables, he played the role of ‘Charlie Price’ in Kinky Boots on Broadway, a role he originated at the Adelphi Theatre in the West End in 2015, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award. His other theatre credits include: ‘Jackie Day’ in Donegal, a new play by Frank McGuinness, at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin and ‘Huey’ in the original London cast of Memphis at the Shaftesbury Theatre for which he was also nominated for an Olivier Award.  He created the role of ‘Deco’ in The Commitments at the Palace Theatre and has also played ‘Tony’ in Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre as well as ‘Raoul’ in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre.

Photo by Matthew Murphy

He first joined the company of Les Misérables in 2008, going onto play the role of ‘Enjolras’ from 2009 to 2011. In 2010, he played the role of ‘Courfeyrac’ in the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables at The O2 Arena and also played the role of ‘Combeferre’ in the multi-award-winning film of the show, released in 2012.

Killian Donnelly as 'Jean Valjean'. Photo Matt Crockett

Cameron Mackintosh said, “When I announced the first UK tour of Les Misérables for ten years, I was really delighted that Killian said to me that he would like to continue playing Jean Valjean.  No stranger to the original production, having played both Enjolras and Valjean with enormous success, his passionate take on the role will be even greater in the thrilling staging of my new production which has proved to be a worldwide success all over again. He is the first Irishman to play the role since Colm Wilkinson in the original and I’m delighted that from advance bookings, this new tour looks set to be sold out before we open.”



Since Cameron Mackintosh first conceived this new production of Les Misérables to celebrate the shows 25th anniversary in 2009, it has taken the world by storm. It also inspired the hugely successful movie version starring Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Eddie Redmayne.



This brilliant new staging has scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, and has been seen in North America, South America, Korea, Japan, Canada, Australia, Spain, France, Manila, Singapore, Dubai and Broadway.



Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, Boublil and Schönberg’s magnificent score of Les Misérables includes the songs, I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, Stars, Bring Him Home, Do You Hear the People Sing?, One Day More, Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, Master Of The House and many more.  Seen by over 120 million people worldwide in 45 countries and in 22 languages, Les Misérables is undisputedly one of the world’s most popular musicals.


Tickets: Tickets for Les Misérables go on to Friends of the Theatre Royal on Tuesday 5 June 2018 at 11am and to the general public on Thursday 21 June 2018 at 11am. Find out more about how to become a Friend of the Theatre Royal by visiting www.theatreroyal.co.uk/ support/become-a-friend

Preview: Mary Poppins at Newcastle Theatre Royal

SOMEONE MAGICAL

IS COMING TO NEWCASTLE!

Mary Poppins

Newcastle Theatre Royal

Thursday 8 September – Saturday 29 October 2016

DISNEY AND CAMERON MACKINTOSH ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THE NEW NATIONAL TOUR OF THEIR INTERNATIONAL SUPERCALIFRAGILISTIC HIT MUSICAL

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh are delighted to announce that their multi award-winning musical Mary Poppins is coming to Newcastle Theatre Royal from Thursday 8 September – Saturday 29 October 2016 as part of a tour of the UK and Ireland.

Following his recent successes with Barnum and Oliver! at the Newcastle Theatre Royal, Cameron Mackintosh is returning with yet another favourite in Mary Poppins. He said: “It’s hard to believe that it is already 11 years since Mary Poppins first landed on the London stage.  My goodness……time flies even faster than our beloved Nanny!  I’m delighted to bring this wonderful musical to Newcastle after spreading its magic around the world.  Since we originally staged the production we have found even more magical ways to stage this timeless tale and I’m sure you will find our new Mary practically perfect in every way”.

The magical story of the world’s favourite Nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane has been triumphantly and spectacularly brought to the stage with dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs. The stage version of Mary Poppins is brilliantly adapted from the wonderful stories by PL Travers and the beloved Walt Disney film.

The stage production of Mary Poppins is co-created by Cameron Mackintosh and has a book by Oscar-winning screenwriter and Downton Abbey creator, Julian Fellowes. It has a timeless score by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman including the songs Jolly Holiday, Step in Time, Supercalifragilisticexpialidociousand Feed the Birds with new songs and additional music and lyrics by the Olivier award-winning British team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. The producer for Disney Theatrical Productions is Thomas Schumacher.

The internationally renowned and multi award-winning creative team assembled for Mary Poppins is led by stage and film director Richard Eyre. Co-direction and choreography is by Matthew Bourne, with co-choreography by Stephen Mear. Set and costume design is by Bob Crowley with lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Paul Groothuis and orchestrations by William David Brohn. The National Tour of Mary Poppins is directed by Anthony Lyn and choreographed by Geoffrey Garratt with musical supervision by Stephen Brooker.

The stage production of Mary Poppins originally opened in 2004 and ran in the West End for three years and over 1,250 performances. During this time it won the Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreography and Best Set Design as well as the Evening Standard Award for Best Set Design and the Variety Club Award for Best Musical. The Broadway production ran for over six years where it won the Tony Award for Best Set Design. The show has subsequently toured Australia, New Zealand, the U.S, the UK, has been seen by over 11 million people and is currently breaking box office records in Vienna.

Tickets:

Mary Poppins appears at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Thursday 8 September – Saturday 29 October 2016. Public and online booking opens on Saturday 30 May. Become a Friend of the Theatre Royal and you can book from Tuesday 26 May.  To become a Friend, visit: www.theatreroyal.co.ukor call 08448 11 21 21.

Tickets from £22.50 (save 50p per ticket by booking online). Tickets can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or select your own seat and book online (from 30 May) at www.theatreroyal.co.uk.