Thursday 27th – Saturday 29th November 2025.
The word is out! This year’s senior musical is none other than the legendary Les Misérables! Our biennial production is a cornerstone of the school’s creative arts programme and we couldn’t be more excited to bring this powerful story to the Norwich High stage.
Many of you will remember our previous high-quality productions, including the macabre fun of The Addams Family and the inspiring story of Made in Dagenham. This year, we’re taking on a true theatrical classic.
Based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo, Les Misérables is an epic tale set in 19th-century France. The story follows the life of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who, after serving 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread, breaks parole and reinvents himself as a respected mayor and factory owner. His past, however, is a constant threat. Valjean is relentlessly pursued by police inspector Javert, who believes people can never change their true nature.
The musical is filled with iconic characters and emotional storylines. We see the tragic journey of Fantine, a young factory worker forced into desperation to support her daughter Cosette. Years later, the story converges with a group of revolutionary students in Paris who are fighting for a better world. Through love, loss, sacrifice and rebellion, the characters’ lives intertwine, leading to a powerful and moving conclusion.
Our students will be performing the Les Misérables School Edition, a version specifically adapted for young performers. While it is slightly condensed and includes a few key changes to make it more manageable for high school productions, it maintains the integrity and emotional core of the original. The powerful music, complex characters and dramatic plot remain fully intact, giving our students a challenging and deeply rewarding creative experience.
This musical offers a fantastic opportunity for our students to take creative risks and be involved in a truly large-scale production. With high-quality lighting, set design and costumes, we are committed to bringing this epic story to life with the excellence it deserves.
The talent on display during auditions was truly inspiring. We’d like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to try out for a main cast role during the summer term. Head of Drama, Hannah Rea-Gardner, and Director of Music Mark Hall were blown away by the dedication and talent.
“Your dedication, bravery and talent continue to astound us,” they shared. “We are particularly impressed by those of you who have auditioned for the first time. We hope you found the process less daunting in reality than in preparation. As a team, we have reflected on how incredibly lucky we are to have so many of you wish to undertake main cast roles – bravo! You all had clearly worked hard to prepare, with each and every one of you presenting highly credible performances. Please take a moment to be incredibly proud of yourselves.”
Rehearsals will be held after school from 4-5:30 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Mark your calendars for the performances:
Ticket booking information will be announced in due course. We can’t wait to see this incredible story come to life on our stage.
