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.
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.
As well as seasoned actors from the Upper School excelling in their leading roles, a significant number of the cast giving stand-out performances were from Forms 3, 4 and 5. This demonstrates the strength of talent coming up through the School.
Looking ahead to future productions, Gilly said, “Rehearsals are taking place for the Middle School Production and Scholars’ Production. We are also in the middle of auditions for the Lower School Production of The Lion King. It is an exciting time to be involved in theatre at Oakham School.”
Read a behind-the-scenes interview with Director of Drama Gilly Norell and insights from members of the cast.
The production of Les Misérables ran from Monday 27 November until Saturday 2 December.
Find out more about Drama and Theatre at Oakham School.