Alexia Khadime, Craig Mather, Katy Secome, Liame Tamne and Lisa-Anne Wood will join the previously reported Caroline Sheen, Alfie Boe, Matt Lucas and Hadley Fraser in the musical's new company from 23 June 2011.
Caroline Sheen (pictured), who will play Fantine, has previously appeared in Les Miserables as Eponine; she most recently played the title role in Mary Poppins on the UK and US tours. For the Washington, DC stand at the Kennedy Center, she won the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress. Other West End credits include creating the role of Jennifer Gabriel in The Witches of Eastwick, and starring in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the National Theatre.
Alexia Khadime will play Eponine and she was last seen in the West End in Adam Gwon's Ordinary Days at Trafalgar Studios. Her stage credits include playing Elphaba in Wicked and Nala in The Lion King. Katy Secombe’s credits include Rosie in Mamma Mia!, Mama Morton in the tour of Chicago and Guys and Dolls at the National Theatre. She will now play Madame Thénardier in Les Miserable's. Liam Tamne, whose recent credits include Hair in the West End, Hairspray, Wicked and Departure Lounge will play Enjolras.
The production marks the West End debut for both Craig Mather as Marius and Lisa-Anne Wood as Cosette.
Besides the new cast, the theatre will also be installing a brand new surround sound system and enlarging the theatre orchestra pit to allow for a slightly larger band to play. The theatre will close from the 18th June for these improvements to take place, and re-open again on 23 June along with the expanded band playing songs from the shows 25th anniversary tour.
As well as celebrating its 25th Birthday in October 2010, the legendary musical made theatrical history with an international first, three different productions playing in London simultaneously. The Original Production at the Queen’s Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, the acclaimed New 25th Anniversary Production at the Barbican (where the show originally premiered in 1985) and the celebratory concert at The O2.
Les Miserables originally opened in London at the Barbican Theatre on 8 October 1985, transferred to the Palace Theatre on 4 December 1985 and moved to its current home at the Queen’s Theatre on 3 April 2004. Seen by nearly 60 million people worldwide in 42 countries and in 21 languages, Les Miserable's is undisputedly one of the world’s most popular musicals ever written.
[posted by Conan, 01/06/2011]