Attention: You are using an outdated browser, device or you do not have the latest version of JavaScript downloaded and so this website may not work as expected. Please download the latest software or switch device to avoid further issues.

News > School News > Students Deliver Epic Production of Les Misérables

Students Deliver Epic Production of Les Misérables

Over five sell-out nights, Oakham School pupils blew audiences away with their stunning ensemble production of Les Misérables. With a special good luck message from Katie Hall ('08).
20 Dec 2023
Written by Charlotte Woodward
School News

The immensely talented 40-strong cast of pupils from Forms 3 to 7 produced some phenomenal vocal and acting performances to transport Victor Hugo’s epic tale of passion and redemption in the French Revolution era to the stage of the QET.


In a first for a Main School Production, both of Oakham’s Heads of School took on leading roles; David as Jean Valjean, a former convict who spends a lifetime seeking redemption, and Annie-May (alternating the role with Sixth Former Eloise) as tragic Fantine, the mother of Cosette who Jean Valjean adopts as his own daughter.


Featuring such famed songs as ‘I Dreamed a Dream’, ‘Do You Hear the People Sing’, and ‘Bring Him Home’, all elements of the production were superb – the acting and singing performances, choreography, set design and costumes, lighting and sound.


Director of Drama, Gilly Norell, said: “I am immensely proud of everyone who has contributed to putting on this incredible show.
“Bringing such a classic ensemble piece to life requires 100% commitment from everyone all the time. We had big choruses, and getting those scenes to work required a lot of hard work, not least from the actors."
“Some of the singing parts in Les Misérables are very challenging indeed, but we are lucky to have had such a talented cohort of pupils taking part in this show, who have delivered fantastic performances night after night.”

“We have also had a brilliant team working behind the scenes to help bring Les Mis to life: two hair and make-up artists, several people helping in the sound and lighting galleries, four stage crew plus a Stage Manager and a couple of members of staff helping to coordinate things.”


The plaudits have flooded in on social media with comments from those attended “… a really unified cast with consistently excellent performances”, “Fabulous show, the cast were absolutely outstanding”, “Such a privilege to be in the audience”. Ahead of their final performance the cast was even treated to a good luck message from OO Katie Hall (’08) and the rest of the London West End cast of Les Misérables, telling them to ‘break a leg’ in time-honoured theatre tradition.

Top Stories

The 120th Edition of The Oakhamian is here! More...

The 210th Edition of The Oakhamian is here! Read through to see what current Oakhamians got up to during the 23/24 academic year. More...

Love of Drama: Current Oakhamians with Old Oakhamians

Oakham School’s QET celebrated its 40th anniversary in style, with distinguished alumni from the world of theatre and the arts returning to join the f… More...

Share a Story

 

@oldoakhamianclub

This website is powered by
ToucanTech