THE NORTH WEST AMATEUR PREMIERE OF LES MISÉRABLES

Popular local community theatre company Tip Top Productions has been chosen to join forces with other North West based theatre groups to stage an amateur production of an iconic West End and Broadway musical.

For the first time ever in the UK, amateur companies have been invited by Cameron Mackintosh and Music Theatre International (MTI) to present their own staging to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Boublil and Schönberg's worldwide phenomenon Les Misérables. For the North West, BOST Musicals and Liverpool Empire Creative Learning are the lead producers and will work in collaboration with Tip Top Productions and Romiley Operatic Society to stage the musical. Performances will be held at Liverpool’s iconic Empire Theatre in the venue’s centenary year, 2025.

They will also have the support and guidance of the show’s ongoing West End and international associate creative teams as they prepare their non-replica, original production of Les Misérables. Productions by other regional community theatre groups will take place across the UK during 2025.

Natalie Flynn, Senior Creative Learning Manager at Liverpool Empire Theatre said:

“This is a new and exciting way of working, celebrating the work of, and raising the profile of, amateur and community-based theatre companies. We are proud to be co-producers and look forward to welcoming both established and emerging talent to our iconic stage.”

BOST Musicals’ chairman, Keith Blackwell added:

“This once in a lifetime opportunity has excited our whole company and we can’t wait to get started. We feel incredibly privileged to have been selected by MTI and Cameron Mackintosh Ltd and are delighted to be able to co-produce this production with the fantastic team at the Liverpool Empire. We look forward to collaborating not only with the Empire, but also with our associate societies: Tip Top Productions and Romiley Operatic Society.”

Tip Top Chairman, Steve Davies said:

“Tip Top Productions are thrilled to have the opportunity to work alongside these prestigious companies on this landmark event. This is a potentially once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our members, and we are excited to build what we’re sure will be a strong and fruitful partnership between our organisations,” 

Romiley Operatic Society’s Chairman/Director, Mike McCaw said:

“We are incredibly proud and honoured to be selected to be involved in the 40th anniversary of Les Misérables. We are itching to get started on what we know will be the most amazing experience for many people involved in amateur theatre.”

Casting for the production will be via open casting calls, details of which will be released shortly and those interested in a potential life-changing opportunity can register their interest via: 

https://forms.office.com/e/VGCzRq9Z7u

Performances will take place at the Liverpool Empire Theatre from 3 – 5 July 2025 with Ticket information to be announced.

The North West companies are honoured to be joining productions all over the UK in this unique celebration.

Cameron Mackintosh commented:

“The phenomenon of LES MISÉRABLES continues to break new ground, just as Victor Hugo’s novel has since it was first published in 1862. As we approach the extraordinary landmark of the 40th record-breaking year of the iconic musical’s London run, alongside countless productions around the world, we are delighted to invite leading amateur companies in the UK to stage, for the first time, the entire show in their own productions. This will involve many hundreds of amateur performers around the country, becoming part of our own year-long celebrations. The success of this much-loved musical was famously made by the public - not the early critics - so what better way to enjoy this unprecedented event, than Let the People Sing!”

Sean Gray, Managing Director of Music Theatre International’s London office said:

"MTI cherishes our amateur theatre companies - they bring our musicals to the whole country, including to towns and areas not regularly visited by national touring productions. They nurture and develop talent in a unique and invaluable way, as well as providing opportunities for everyone who loves performing and making theatre to be a part of productions on all of the country's stages. Many of the great shows live on in amateur productions, often decades after their initial productions in the West End or on Broadway. Although we have been able to license thousands of productions of LES MISERABLES SCHOOL EDITION to schools and youth groups, the remarkable success of the West End production in London and on tour means it hasn't been possible to offer the show to our major amateur companies. But for one year, we are thrilled to have this opportunity to invite amateur theatre companies across the UK to produce eleven local productions, which we hope will be genuine local community projects. We already know how much excitement the project will generate and we are really looking forward to guiding everyone towards a great national amateur celebration of LES MISERABLES in 2025 to mark the 40th anniversary of the London production."

About Tip Top Productions: 

Founded by Peter Swingler in 1989, with openness at its heart, Tip Top Productions has become well-known as a community theatre group producing professional-standard musicals, plays and pantomimes at venues such as Theatr Clwyd near Mold and Storyhouse in Chester, whilst retaining a welcoming and friendly environment for all. 

www.tiptopproductions.co.uk

About BOST Musicals: 

As we approach BOST’s centenary, it is remarkable to see how far we have progressed from humble beginnings to producing annual shows at the Liverpool Empire Theatre, the largest 2-tier theatre in the country. Our aim has been and always will be to stage professional-standard shows, whilst endeavouring to keep ticket prices more affordable for our audiences. 

www.bostmusicals.co.uk

About Liverpool Empire Creative Learning: 

ATG Creative Learning is an important part of ATG Entertainments commitment to nurture the future, engaging and empowering people of all abilities, ages, genders, races and socio-economic backgrounds in local communities and schools, with the aim of increasing access to the performing arts. The Liverpool Empire Creative Learning department provides a wide range of events and activities throughout the year, supported by the Empire Theatre (Merseyside) Trust Ltd registered charity number 509548. The Trustees, consider this work to be an essential part of its charitable aims to unlock the potential of the venue as a valuable resource in the world of cultural education. 

https://www.liverpoolempiretrust.co.uk/ 

https://www.atgtickets.com/communities/creative-learning-community-partnerships

About Romiley Operatic Society: 

Romiley Operatic Society is an amateur theatre company based in the borough of Stockport. We perform at the iconic, art deco, Stockport Plaza and pride ourselves on bringing you productions of the highest standard. ROS has been involved in community theatre since the early 1930’s and have always attracted and nurtured amazing talent both on stage and off, bringing in audiences from far and wide.

www.facebook.com/RomileyOperaticSociety

About Music Theatre International:

Music Theatre International (MTI) was founded in 1952 by legendary Broadway songwriter Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, today with offices in London, New York, and Melbourne. MTI’s London office, overseeing a European market from Iceland to Israel, typically licenses over 6,500 productions a year, from schools and amateur societies to professionals, reaching audiences of more than 8 million annually. Across its catalogue of more than 400 titles, MTI represents an array of musicals including Broadway classics (Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, My Fair Lady); contemporary hits (Dear Evan Hansen, Mean Girls, Waitress); the ground-breaking works of Stephen Sondheim (Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd); global titles (Mamma Mia!, Billy Elliot, Matilda The Musical); Cameron Mackintosh-produced hits (Les Misérables, Miss Saigon); Disney (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid); and the Mackintosh and Disney-produced Mary Poppins. MTI is especially dedicated to the education sector and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of young performers. MTI’s Broadway Junior series are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by primary and middle school-aged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals tailored to the needs of secondary school pupils.  MTI London produces an annual Junior Theatre Festival, Europe’s biggest celebration of musical theatre for young performers, at the ICC in Birmingham. MTI is also proud of its user-friendly production resources, providing support to our customers across all aspects of musical theatre production. 

Pictured -  (l-r)  Luke Disley (Tip Top Productions), Laura Steventon (BOST Musicals), James Lacey-Kiggins (Director, BOST Musicals), Mike McCaw (Romiley Operatic Society), Natalie Flynn (Liverpool Empire Creative Learning), Keith Blackwell (BOST Musicals).   (Image credit: Brian Roberts) .