LES MISERABLES To Premiere In The Middle East Tonight Featuring Australian Performers

Cameron Mackintosh's production of Boublil & Schönberg's legendary musical LES MISERABLES will have its Middle East premiere at Dubai Opera, situated in the heart of Downtown Dubai on 15 November 2016. The much-loved and critically acclaimed show will open the city's first purpose-built performing arts theatre.

"I am delighted to be bringing my hugely acclaimed new production of LES MISERABLES to the stunning new Dubai Opera which is destined to be the home of the best international musicals in Dubai and the Middle East. The production features a sensational international cast, led by my recent Broadway stars John Owen-Jones as Jean Valjean and Hayden Tee as Javert and Patrice Tipoki as Fantine." Cameron Mackintosh said.

Executive Producer Michael Cassel said from Dubai, "It is such a thrilling opportunity to open this incredible venue with so many Australian performers showcasing their talents here in the Middle East. Dubai audiences are in for a real treat and, over three years after we first introduced our Australian company, we are so excited to have our magnificent company members, including our strong contingent of 52 Australian cast, crew and management team, delivering this first-class production in Dubai."

Members from the Australian company join cast members from around the world for this exciting production, the first musical to play the Dubai Opera.

Hayden Tee, whose extraordinary performance as Javert was lauded both on the Australian Tour and on Broadway, is now gracing the Dubai Opera stage in this outstanding production. Hayden has firmly staked his claim on Jean Valjean's lifelong antagonist Javert, earning him a Green Room Award and a Theatre People Pro Choice Award for 'Best Individual Performance'. Hayden has also appeared in many musical theatre and opera productions around the world, including Being Earnest, My Fair Lady and in 2005 he played Marius in the 20th anniversary West End production of LES MISERABLES.

Adding to this excitement, Patrice Tipoki joins the cast from starring as Fantine in the Australian Tour, London's West End and most recently in Singapore. She is known to Australian audiences from lead roles in The Lion King and Wicked. Patrice has been preparing for the role of Fantine since she was a little girl. Hailing from a musical family, she first saw LES MISERABLES in Brisbane at the age of 6 and dreamed of performing in the show ever since. Now as an international musical theatre star, Patrice is ecstatic to be performing Fantine in Dubai.

WAAPA graduate, Emily Langridge received great acclaim for her portrayal of Cosette in the Australian and Manila and Singapore productions of LES MISERABLES. Emily was also seen in The Production Company's Gypsy and The Pirates of Penzance. She continues in the beloved role of Cosette in this Dubai premiere.

Ensemble members from Australia include: Daniel Belle, Billy Bourchier, Hugo Chiarella, Mischana Dellora-Cornish, Blake Erickson, Tamlyn Henderson, Nigel Huckle, Liam McIlwain, Sarah Murr, Adèle Parkinson, Michaela Powell, and Natasha Veselinovic.

Joining the talented Australian cast and playing the iconic role of Jean Valjean is the world-renowned musical theatre star, John Owen-Jones. John is an award-winning and record-breaking West End and Broadway actor & singer who is best known for his performances as Jean Valjean in LES MISERABLES and as The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera.

Playing the 'Master of the House', Monsieur Thénardier is Peter Polycarpou who was in the original London cast of LES MISERABLES playing the role of Jean Prouvaire before taking over the role of Thénardier. He originated the role of John in Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and has performed in both The Phantom of the Opera and Evita. His most recent theatre credits include Fagin in Oliver! and City of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse, London.

Jodie Prenger, who is performing as Madame Thénardier, is best known for winning the role of Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh's West End production of Oliver! through the BBC television series I'd Do Anything. Jodie recently wowed audiences playing the title role in the national tour of the musical Calamity Jane and also in the one-woman show Tell Me On A Sunday. She has also starred in the National Theatre's hit production of One Man, Two Guvnors both in the West End and on tour and as Lady of the Lake in Spamalot.

Playing Éponine is Carrie Hope Fletcher was recently seen in the London production of LES MISERABLES as 'Éponine'. She made her West End debut as Young Éponine in 2001 at the age of seven and is the only British actress to play both Young Éponine and 'older' Éponine in the production. Other recent theatre credits include Truly Scrumptious in the UK Tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. She is also the author of "On The Other Side" and The Sunday Times Bestseller "All I Know Now". Carrie is an internet sensation and her fans (the "Hopefuls") regularly flock to YouTube to watch her inspiring video's.

Alistair Brammer, who plays the passionate student leader Enjolras, most recently wowed audiences as Chris in Cameron Mackintosh's new award-winning production of Miss Saigon in London's West End and in the live recording of the stage show which is currently being released in cinema's around the world. He made his professional stage debut as Marius in the West End production of LES MISERABLES at the Queen's Theatre having previously appeared in a special finale of the show for the show's 20th birthday where he played the same role as part of the Schools' Edition cast. Following his appearance in the West End, Alistair was cast as Jean Prouvaire in the smash hit film of LES MISERABLES, a role he also played in the 25th Anniversary Concerts of the show at London's O2.

Playing the love struck revolutionary Marius is Paul Wilkins who graduated from The Arts Educational Schools, London and went straight into the West End cast of LES MISERABLES in its 30th Anniversary year as Ensemble/cover Marius and played the role of Marius for Cameron Mackintosh in both Manila and Singapore earlier this year.

This thrilling company is rounded off with more ensemble members from the United Kingdom: Angel Bishop-Simon, Mary Cormack, Jessica Daley, Jordan Lee Davies, Emilie du Leslay, David Francis, Louie Green, Holly-Anne Hull, James Hume, Ciaran Joyce, Adam Linstead, Mia McLoughlin, Colby Mulgrew, Grace Rogers, Lauren Soley, Oscar Tollofsen, Tom Vincent, Ena Vllasaliu and Santiago Weston.

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century revolutionary France, LES MISERABLES is a much loved blockbuster musical which has been seen by over 70 million people worldwide in 45 countries and in 22 languages. LES MISERABLES is undisputedly one of the most popular musicals of all time. Having won more than 125 major awards around the world, it has been hailed as the most stirring, moving musical ever. Based on Victor Hugo's classic novel, it is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. The magnificent score of LES MISERABLES includes the classic songs "I Dreamed a Dream", "On My Own", "Stars", "Bring Him Home", "Do You Hear the People Sing?", "One Day More", "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables", "Master of the House" and many more.

This new production of LES MISERABLES has been praised by critics, fans and new audiences, breaking box office records internationally and inspiring filmmakers to make the outstandingly successful movie which went on to win 3 Oscar's, 3 Golden Globes, 4 BAFTAs and 5 Helpmann Awards.

Cameron Mackintosh's production of LES MISERABLES is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg and is based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel. Adapted by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, it has additional material by James Fenton. The 25th Anniversary Production is directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell and designed by Matt Kinley. Original costumes are by Andreane Neofitou, additional costumes by Christine Rowland, lighting design by Paule Constable and sound design by Mick Potter. Executive Producers of the Dubai production are Nicholas Allott, Thomas Schönberg and Michael Cassel.

For further information: lesmis.ae