On 8 October 2025, celebrities, musical theatre stars and die-hard fans descended on the Sondheim Theatre to watch a very special performance of Les Miserables. It was 40 years since the epic musical, adapted from Victor Hugo’s novel, officially opened in the West End. Over those four decades, it’s been seen by more than 150 million people in 50+ countries, translated into 22 languages, and earned the title of London’s (and the world’s) longest-running musical.
But its journey to global acclaim hasn’t always been smooth. From poor reviews on opening night to a global pandemic bringing theatres to a standstill, the show has experienced its fair share of challenges. Curious to know how Hugo’s hefty book became one of the most beloved theatrical productions of all time? Explore the complete history of Les Miserables in London below.
Inspired by the 1832 June Rebellion, Les Miserables is one of the longest books ever published at 1,456 pages. The iconic image of Cosette you see on the musical’s poster is based on an etching by Émile Bayard from the novel’s first edition.
31 March 1862
Victor Hugo publishes Les Miserables.
Inspired by the 1832 June Rebellion, Les Miserables is one of the longest books ever published at 1,456 pages. The iconic image of Cosette you see on the musical’s poster is based on an etching by Émile Bayard from the novel’s first edition.
Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s sung-through musical started life as a concept album before premiering on stage in France.
Directed by filmmaker Robert Hossein, it ran for over 100 performances, and closed after 3 months.
17 September 1980
French-language premiere at Palais Du Sports in Paris.
Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s sung-through musical started life as a concept album before premiering on stage in France.
Directed by filmmaker Robert Hossein, it ran for over 100 performances, and closed after 3 months.
Co-produced by Cameron Mackintosh and the Royal Shakespeare Company and directed by Trevor Nunn, the original run lasted two months and broke box office records.
Audiences loved it, but critical reviews were mixed. The Observer’s Michael Ratcliffe called it a “witless and synthetic entertainment” and The Sunday Telegraph’s Francis King dismissed it as “a lurid Victorian melodrama”.
8 October 1985
English-language production opens at London’s Barbican Centre.
Co-produced by Cameron Mackintosh and the Royal Shakespeare Company and directed by Trevor Nunn, the original run lasted two months and broke box office records.
Audiences loved it, but critical reviews were mixed. The Observer’s Michael Ratcliffe called it a “witless and synthetic entertainment” and The Sunday Telegraph’s Francis King dismissed it as “a lurid Victorian melodrama”.
Les Miserables moved into its first West End home just a few months after its premiere, with Colm Wilkinson continuing to star as Jean Valjean (he would later star in the Broadway premiere in 1987 as well). It stayed at the Palace Theatre, now home to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, until 2004.
The show’s affectionate nickname “Les Miz” quickly spread, and tickets were reportedly scalped for four times their face value price!
4 December 1985
Les Mis transfers to the West End.
Les Miserables moved into its first West End home just a few months after its premiere, with Colm Wilkinson continuing to star as Jean Valjean (he would later star in the Broadway premiere in 1987 as well). It stayed at the Palace Theatre, now home to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, until 2004.
The show’s affectionate nickname “Les Miz” quickly spread, and tickets were reportedly scalped for four times their face value price!
Les Miserables was nominated for four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical. It didn’t take home the top gong, but Patti LuPone won Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for her portrayal of Fantine.
8 December 1985
Modest success at the Olivier Awards.
Les Miserables was nominated for four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical. It didn’t take home the top gong, but Patti LuPone won Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for her portrayal of Fantine.
A quick hop across the pond for this historic moment: following a pre-Broadway season at Kennedy Centre Opera House, Les Miserables officially opened in New York.
12 March 1987
Opening night on Broadway.
A quick hop across the pond for this historic moment: following a pre-Broadway season at Kennedy Centre Opera House, Les Miserables officially opened in New York.
The concert performance was filmed and released on VHS. It featured a hand-selected “Dream Cast” chosen by Sir Cameron Mackintosh.
At the end, an encore of “Do You Hear The People Sing?” and “One Day More” was performed, featuring seventeen international Valjean actors.
8 October 1995
10th Anniversary Concert at Royal Albert Hall.
The concert performance was filmed and released on VHS. It featured a hand-selected “Dream Cast” chosen by Sir Cameron Mackintosh.
At the end, an encore of “Do You Hear The People Sing?” and “One Day More” was performed, featuring seventeen international Valjean actors.
After 18 years and 7,602 performances, the show moved down Shaftesbury Avenue to the Queen’s Theatre, to allow refurbishment of the Palace Theatre.
As part of the move, there were some revisions to the staging.
3 April 2004
Les Miserables moves to a new West End home.
After 18 years and 7,602 performances, the show moved down Shaftesbury Avenue to the Queen’s Theatre, to allow refurbishment of the Palace Theatre.
As part of the move, there were some revisions to the staging.
21st birthdays are always momentous, and Les Mis celebrated by overtaking Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats as the longest-running musical in the West End.
8 October 2006
Officially the West End’s longest-running musical.
21st birthdays are always momentous, and Les Mis celebrated by overtaking Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats as the longest-running musical in the West End.
The touring version ran simultaneously with the original production at the Queen’s Theatre, marking the first time two productions of the same musical ran in the same city at the same time!
14 September 2010
UK touring production opens at the Barbican.
The touring version ran simultaneously with the original production at the Queen’s Theatre, marking the first time two productions of the same musical ran in the same city at the same time!
An all-star cast performed, joined by international alumni and current cast members.
Actors appearing in this special concert performance included Alfie Boe as Valjean, Nick Jonas as Marius, and Lea Salonga as Fantine.
It was filmed and broadcast in cinemas worldwide.
3 October 2010
25th Anniversary Concert at the O2 Arena.
An all-star cast performed, joined by international alumni and current cast members.
Actors appearing in this special concert performance included Alfie Boe as Valjean, Nick Jonas as Marius, and Lea Salonga as Fantine.
It was filmed and broadcast in cinemas worldwide.
Venue number three in London, and it’s for another refurbishment project.
The show moved next door to the Gielgud, in a simpler concert format, while the Queen’s Theatre had a makeover. This meant its record-breaking West End run wasn’t interrupted, and it kept its title as longest-running musical.
The cast included Alfie Boe, Michael Ball, Carrie Hope Fletcher and Matt Lucas.
10 August – 30 November 2019
Les Miserables: The Staged Concert opens at the Gielgud Theatre.
Venue number three in London, and it’s for another refurbishment project.
The show moved next door to the Gielgud, in a simpler concert format, while the Queen’s Theatre had a makeover. This meant its record-breaking West End run wasn’t interrupted, and it kept its title as longest-running musical.
The cast included Alfie Boe, Michael Ball, Carrie Hope Fletcher and Matt Lucas.
The Queen’s Theatre was renamed the Sondheim on reopening in honour of Stephen Sondheim, who died earlier in 2019.
This production now uses the updated staging developed for the 2009 UK Tour.
18 December 2019
Re-opens at the newly named Sondheim Theatre.
The Queen’s Theatre was renamed the Sondheim on reopening in honour of Stephen Sondheim, who died earlier in 2019.
This production now uses the updated staging developed for the 2009 UK Tour.
After a tumultuous year for theatre thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Les Miserables re-opened in stripped back form at the Sondheim Theatre.
Cast members included Michael Ball, Matt Lucas, Alfie Boe, Carrie Hope Fletcher.
The production ran at 50% capacity and ran for just 10 performances until local restrictions forced it to close.
5 December 2020
Staged Concert re-opens with social distancing.
After a tumultuous year for theatre thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Les Miserables re-opened in stripped back form at the Sondheim Theatre.
Cast members included Michael Ball, Matt Lucas, Alfie Boe, Carrie Hope Fletcher.
The production ran at 50% capacity and ran for just 10 performances until local restrictions forced it to close.
Playing until September, the cast included Jon Robyns as Jean Valjean, Bradley Jaden as Javert and Lucie Jones as Fantine.
20 May 2021
Staged Concert re-opens with a new cast.
Playing until September, the cast included Jon Robyns as Jean Valjean, Bradley Jaden as Javert and Lucie Jones as Fantine.
After a few false starts and new formats, the fully staged production was back for good at the Sondheim Theatre.
25 September 2021
Les Miserables fully re-opens in the West End.
After a few false starts and new formats, the fully staged production was back for good at the Sondheim Theatre.
Audience members were treated to a complimentary drink to celebrate. Santé!
28 September 2023
15,000 performances in London.
Audience members were treated to a complimentary drink to celebrate. Santé!
Playing for a limited season until 1 November 2025, the cast were selected to celebrate Les Mis‘ landmark anniversary. They included Killian Donnelly as Jean Valjean and Bradley Jaden as Javert.
Playing for a limited season until 1 November 2025, the cast were selected to celebrate Les Mis‘ landmark anniversary. They included Killian Donnelly as Jean Valjean and Bradley Jaden as Javert.
The Sondheim Theatre hosted a special birthday celebration, featuring the 40th Anniversary cast and an encore with lots of past cast members including Alfie Boe, Matt Lucas and Bonnie Langford.
8 October 2025
Les Miserables turns 40 with a gala performance in London.
The Sondheim Theatre hosted a special birthday celebration, featuring the 40th Anniversary cast and an encore with lots of past cast members including Alfie Boe, Matt Lucas and Bonnie Langford.
Share Your Les Miserables Memories
Were you at the first ever London performance, or are you reading everything you need to know about Les Miserables before seeing it for the first time? Share your memories of the show with us below.
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