2019 - Les Misérables
At The Capital Theatre
68 Cast Members
8 Performances
3181 Tickets Sold
2 Sold out performances
Nexsemble Award Tabitha Watts
Nexus Award Erin Howell
Lead Casts & Alumni Cast
Nexus Grants a Dream Night Guests Included: Vision Australia, Bendigo Health Carers, StJoG & MAD COW Volunteers
Check out the Bendigo Advertiser’s Review: Click Here
Les Miserables is an epic tale of one man’s journey from despair to salvation. Set in Romantic-era France, Jean Valjean is a convict who, after spending nineteen years in prison, is offered a second chance at life and love.
Boublil and Schonberg’s score has been delighting audiences since it premiered in 1985, and has run continuously on London’s west end ever since. The songs are enthralling, from stirring choruses like ‘Red and Black’ and ‘Do You Hear The People Sing?’, to the beautiful ‘Bring Him Home’ and the heartbreaking ‘On My Own’.
As the uprising of the 1832 June Rebellion swirls around them, Valjean’s adopted daughter Cosette falls hopelessly in love with the idealistic student Marius, who joins in the fervent patriotism of his peers and fights alongside them on the barricade. Meanwhile, police chief Javert continues to hunt down Valjean, whilst the villainous Thenardiers are also out to get what they can.
Whilst Nexus BYT works mainly with secondary-school aged actors, this year the younger actors are supported by a second lead cast of alumni, young adults who have all graduated from the Nexus program over the past five years. Jordan Gleeson, who plays Javert in the alumni cast, says it’s a great opportunity to share skills and knowledge with the younger lead cast and to support the huge team of adult volunteers who run Nexus.
Director Julie Lovell is in awe of the skill in this year’s cast, which numbers 68, most of whom are under 18 years of age. “The depth of understanding and empathy that these students feel towards these characters shows the immense talent they bring to the stage. There’s incredible maturity in these young people, and they’ve worked so hard and shown great professionalism.”
Andrew Trewartha’s 10th and final year leading the orchestra of musicians, many of who have been involved in Nexus from its inception.
The work of the set and costume teams are guaranteed to impress, too. Hundreds of hours have been poured into creating realistic and historically accurate visuals that will transport the audience to Paris, 1832.
Nexus BYT is part of MADCOW (Make A Difference, Change Our World), the community outreach wing of the Bendigo Baptist Church, and aim to give young people an opportunity to participate in high-quality theatre.
