Torquay Boys' Grammar School present Les Miserables

There’s only a few rehearsals left before the staging of the ever popular musical Les Misérables at Torquay Boys' Grammar School from 5-8 March, and it’s shaping up to be spine-tingling.

Once again, students from both the boys and girls schools have joined forces to make a huge and highly-talented cast to do this much-loved story justice.

Following the success of Into The Woods last year, director James Hunt, musical director Chris Eastman and Choreographer Vickie Pellant, were keen to find an even bigger project, and as it is 10 years since TBGS first staged Les Misérables, it seemed a fitting choice...

The story, based on Victor Hugo’s novel, recently adapted in a fantastically immersive BBC series, tells the story of a French peasant, Jean Valjean, who after a stint in prison for stealing a loaf of bread, takes a quest to redeem himself through acts of charity to society and orphan Cosette, all the time chased by a relentless officer, Javert, who wants to see Valjean returned to prison; the quest leads Javert to turmoil, whilst embroiling Valjean in a citizens’ revolution, where he has to save an idealist student named Marius with whom Cosette has fallen in love.

The production team are pulling out all the stops to build a revolving stage, impressive barricade, and finding enough period costumes for the huge ensemble in order to present all the narrative threads coming together across many shifts in time and place.

With well-known numbers including One Day More, Do you Hear the People Sing, and Master of the House, offering just the right combination of storytelling, rousing spirit and emotion: the students have risen to the challenge and already raise the roof of the Cavanna Centenary Hall.

There are sure to be some memorable performances: from the audition Luke Gribbin’s Valjean was packed with emotion, power and sensitivity - his version of Bring Him Home will not leave a dry eye in the auditorium.

Charlie Epps is taking the lead as Javert and is perfectly bringing out the brooding and sinister character, alongside some powerful female lead performances from Eve Bell as Fantine, Molly Wynne as Cosette and Sophie Chamberlain as Eponine.

But it will be Madame and Monsieur Thénardier who will be sure steal the show; the comic characterisation of Lucia Moussalli and Lloyd Bickham as the villainous landlord duo is sure to be a tour de force.

TBGS welcomes members of the public to the performances, which runs 5-8th March from 7.30pm, and tickets can be reserved via the What’s On tab at www.tbgs.co.uk