The UK Amateur Premières of
LES MISÉRABLES
“LET THE PEOPLE SING”
In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of
Boublil & Schönberg’s legendary musical
Lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer
The Bristol Hippodrome
August 12th – 16th 2025
AUDITIONS NOW OPEN - CLOSING DATE 31st AUGUST
A. General Information
BLOC Productions is proud to have been invited by Cameron Mackintosh and Music Theatre International (MTI) to be one of only 11 clubs across the UK to be granted a one-off amateur licence to produce their own staging of the full version of Les Misérables, as part of the iconic show’s 40th Anniversary celebrations in 2025.
This exciting, unique and challenging opportunity comes as part of a nationwide, collaborative community theatre project. BLOC Productions is delighted to be producing Les Misérables – “Let The People Sing” in association with four other local clubs: Weston Operatic Society (WOS), Bath Operatic & Dramatic Society (BODS), Bristol Amateur Operatic Society (BAOS) and Bristol Musical Comedy Club (BMCC).
There will be similar collaborative, community-wide amateur performances in 10 other cities across the UK between March and August 2025 – they will all be different to what you may have seen in the West End or on UK tour, as a key requirement for us all is to produce non-replica, original productions of the show. Ours promises to offer audiences an evening of passion, heartbreak and hope – experiencing the phenomenon that is Les Misérables like never before in our unique, dramatic and powerful new staging of the show.
The Bristol version of Les Misérables will be Co-Directed by Alex Turasiewicz and David Baxter, with Conal Bembridge-Sayers as the Musical Director. Sam Davies will be the Production Manager.
We will be presenting Les Misérables - “Let The People Sing” at our regular home, the Bristol Hippodrome, from Tuesday August 12th to Saturday August 16th 2025, with evening performance on each day and matiness on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, so eight performances in all.
Ticket booking information and further details will be available in due course.
B. Information for those interested in auditioning
1. As this as a community-wide project there will be open casting calls. Auditions will be advertised widely in the community and the show is not a closed shop to members of BLOC, WOS, BODS, BAOS and BMCC. Members of these clubs are not automatically entitled to be in the show and will therefore need to audition along with everyone else to be in it.
2. Details of how to apply to audition, character notes, audition materials and an application form will be posted on this website on 1st August.
3. Our current intention is to double cast the show alongside a static chorus. We hope to give nearly 250 people across our region the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be involved in this wonderful show. Each company will get four performances.
4. Audition dates, venues and details are yet to be confirmed, but are they likely to be in December 2024 and January 2025.
5. Rehearsals will take place mostly on Sundays starting in February. Those interested must be able to commit to this, though cast members will not be called every Sunday. For the first few weeks, the focus will be on teaching and rehearsing the vocals to concert standard, before the show is blocked and staged.
6. All cast and chorus members must be available both daytime and evenings in show week (Monday August 11th – Saturday August 16th inclusive).
7. There will be a performance fee for those taking part (t.b.c.). Cast and Chorus members who are not currently members of BLOC Productions will become guest members of BLOC for the duration of this production only.
Signed on behalf of the BLOC Productions Trustees:
Philip Hallworth (Chair)
Graham Lewis (Treasurer)