NCL takes centre stage in Les Misérables 40th Anniversary production
Performing Arts lecturer Alan Currie is taking on the lead role of Jean Valjean at King's Theatre next month and he’s just one of a number of current and former NCL staff and students involved.
The production is part of "Let The People Sing," a UK-wide amateur theatre project celebrating four decades of the iconic musical. The project will see 11 community-wide productions of Les Misérables mounted across the UK, with Glasgow performances scheduled at The King's Theatre in April 2025.
The Lyric Club Glasgow, in collaboration with Pantheon Theatre Glasgow, Glasgow Light Opera Club (GLOC), PMOS, and Theatre South Productions (TSP), is presenting Boublil & Schönberg's legendary musical as part of this nationwide celebration.
Alan said: ‘It’s an incredible privilege to play Valjean. Les Mis was the first musical I saw and I’ve seen it 14 times since then, so to do this is thrilling. I’ve haven’t actually appeared in on stage in a musical for more than a decade, so there are nerves, but the whole production is so professional I’m really just excited.”
Kieran Young, a sessional lecturer, is the musical director of the production and said: “The standard is amazingly high. We had over 300 auditions for 52 roles and that’s reflected in the quality of the cast.”
NCL Musical Theatre students Ben Glassby, Amy Dougall and Aiyana Barrett Mansfield are part of the ensemble. Amy said ‘from the moment I walked into rehearsal, you could see the talent In the room was unbelievable. It’s a dream to be part of this.”
But the NCL connections don’t stop there. Former lecturer Chriss Mills, who taught Performing Arts at NCL alongside Alan Currie for several years, is part of the ensemble cast. Mills said she's "thrilled to be part of this amazing project and proud that her colleague Alan is playing Jean Valjean."
Adding to the family connections, Mills' daughter Jeni Mills, who also attended NCL, is taking on the role of Fantine in the production.
She attended Coatbridge College from 2005-2007, reflects: "I didn't have a drama department at my school so I was able to learn all the fundamentals in college. I learned so much from how to tackle difficult scripts to looking after my voice so I could get through multiple performances a week."
Since her time at NCL, Mills has performed in several productions and worked as a Character and Parade Performer at Disneyland Paris before becoming a Main Stage vocalist on Holland America Line cruise ships.
The participants uniformly describe the 40th anniversary production as a special opportunity. Kirsten MacDonald, who attended NCL from 2012-2014, calls it "a once in a lifetime opportunity" and "a pinch-me-moment."
MacDonald, who now works as a Musical Director for amateur clubs and children's theatre schools, adds: "Every second of the rehearsal process has felt like a professional production. The talent coming from our principle cast and each member of ensemble is incredible."
Based on Victor Hugo's timeless novel, Les Misérables tells a powerful story of love, redemption, and revolution, set against the turmoil of post-revolutionary France. The musical has captivated audiences worldwide with unforgettable characters and iconic songs including "I Dreamed a Dream," "One Day More," and "Do You Hear the People Sing."
Tickets for this special amateur production at The King's Theatre are available from the ATG Tickets website.