Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment

Michael Ball and Alfie Boe return to all-star Les Misérables in London's West End this Christmas

We dreamed a dream and it came true — Les Misérables will return to the West End stage for a special Christmas run.

Theatre owner and producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh announced the news during the Britain’s Got Talent final on ITV.

The show will run at the Sondheim Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue for six weeks from December 5, with both Michael Ball and Matt Lucas starring.

The news came after the combined companies of Les Miserables – The Staged Concert, The Phantom Of The Opera and Mary Poppins took to the stage on Britain’s Got Talent for a musical medley. The performance coincided with Les Miserables’ 35th birthday and The Phantom Of The Opera’s 34th birthday.

Appearing on stage after, Sir Cameron said: “I can’t tell you how emotional this is for me and for all of us. I cannot believe that these performers, great friends of mine, have not performed before tonight for seven months. It is extraordinary.”

He said he hoped the performance had inspired Chancellor Rishi Sunak to push for the reopening of theatres. In June, Sir Cameron announced that shows including Mary Poppins, Hamilton and The Phantom Of The Opera would not return to the West End this year.

It comes after the announcement this week that pantomime is returning to the London Palladium. Pantoland at The Palladium will play across December in front of a socially-distanced audience and star Julian Clary, Ashley Banjo and Diversity, Nigel Havers and Beverley Knight.

It is made possible due to a National Lottery initiative to buy seats which must remain empty for social distancing.

With additional reporting by Press Association

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.