The Stage

Gareth Gates to star in tour of Les Miserables

Published Monday 29 June 2009 at 16:02 by Alistair Smith

Former Pop Idol finalist Gareth Gates, who recently appeared in the West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, is to star in the forthcoming international tour of Les Miserables.

Gates will appear as Marius, alongside Earl Carpenter as Javert and John Owen Jones as Jean Valjean.

Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, the new production of the musical will open at the Wales Millennium Centre on December 11.

The show originally opened in London at the Barbican Theatre on October 8, 1985, transferred to the Palace Theatre on December 4 of that year and moved to its current home at the Queen’s Theatre on April 3, 2004 where it continues to play. When the musical celebrated its 21st London birthday on October 8, 2006, it became the world’s longest running musical, surpassing the record previously held by “Cats” in London’s West End.

It 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 and additional material by James Fenton. The original London production was adapted and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird.

This new production will be directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell and designed by Matt Kinley inspired by the works of Victor Hugo and John Napier. Original costumes by Andreane Neofitou, lighting by Paule Constable and sound by Mick Potter.