LES MISERABLES school edition – Mayflower Studios until 16th August 2026

Review: P Hayward 14th August 2026

As with many people, Les Miserables is one of my all time favourite musicals. So a chance to see the musical performed by the amazing pool of young talent that has been nurtured around the Southampton area and in particular by Mayflower community programmes would be a real treat. Then I looked at the press release again, and what it said was Les Miserables School Edition; waves of horror shook, me – did that mean no prostitutes, no deaths on the barricade, no Javert suicide – NO; what it means is there are a few minor key and lyric adjustments tailored for young voices and what we get is everything you would expect from the big boys professional production but with a lot more feeling.

This production at Mayflower Studios is the 2026 Mayflower Summer Youth Project and it embraces every aspect of the Mayflower Community Youth Programme, not just performance, but set design and build, sound, lighting, in fact every element of putting on a major stage musical. All guided by a group of seasoned, experienced and dedicated professionals. Like every major West End musical this is a production that has been many months in the making and it shows.

For the uninitiated, the musical is set in 19th-century France, where Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who breaks his parole to seek a new life inspired by a kind bishop. He is relentlessly tracked by a fixated police inspector Javert, and their lives become intertwined with the tragic factory worker Fantine and the 1832 Paris student rebellion.

This is a musical that demands strong performances, outstanding vocals and a cast that can sing and harmonise as one. Last night over 50 local young people delivered that and so much more. The role of Jean Valjean is the key role in the show and here stepping into the shoes of Colm Wilkinson, John Owen-Jones and Killian Donnelly (to mention a few) is Alex Lockhart and what an amazing performance he delivers from convict to mayor, from theft to compassion. His later life is shaped by the desperate Fantine played by Abigail Fairman who’s rendition of ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ is every bit as good as Patti LuPone’s original. The original role of Jean Valjean’s nemesis Javert was played by classical actor Roger Allam, this has always been a hard act to follow – but last night Marek Silverton delivered and in aces – what a performance and what a voice, ‘Who Am I?’ has never sounded better and his rendition of ‘Javert’s Soliloquy’ leaves the audience in absolute silence – understanding that this truly was his end.

Every musical must have a little light relief and ‘Les Mis’ has it in the form of crooked inn keepers Thenardier and Madame Thenardier, often just played for laughs (Matt Lucas with Katy Secombe) but the originals Alun Armstrong and Susan Jane Tanner added humour to their dramatic and nasty roles and it is along those lines that Aarom Axtell and Rose Durber have built their characters, in fact Aarom Axtell excels in every aspect with every nuance he shows what potential he has for the professional stage.

The romantic aspect of the musical is between Fantine’s daughter, Cosette and student, Marius. Cosette played by Ellie Crain has an incredible soprano voice over which she has total control. And Jack Hosking-Ellis as Marius surprised us all, his rendition with ‘Eponine’s Errand’ took me back to 1986 and Michael Ball’s original performance in this role, a feeling that grew through the show to one amazing performance of ‘Empty Chairs At Empty Tables’. The link between the two is Eponine played by Alice Boccolini, delivering the perfect balance of emotions between love and victim and whose rendition of ‘On My Own’ is a stand out moment.

Leading the rebellious students is Enjolras, seldom do we see someone as commanding as George Sales in this role, especially when leading the whole company in the most stirring of theatrical anthems ‘Do You Hear The People Sing?’. I can’t fail to mention the outstanding performance of Dylan Prongnamjai as the most junior of rebels. Gavroche, who comes into his own on the barricades with an excellent rendition of ‘Little People’. But this is a musical that is built around a big company, whether convicts, factory workers, dock side prostitutes or rebellious students manning their barricades – and this company has them all. Every one has their own characterisations, their own means of delivery and at the same time can perform as one. Amazing, amazing….amazing.

Every aspect of this ‘Les Miserables’ is phenomenal and special mentions need to recognise the Director, Viv Bayliss; Musical Director, Tom Attwood; Movement Director, Danielle Bond; Sets and Costumes Supervisor, James Henderson; Lighting Designer, Mark Dymock and Producer, Jamie Smith. Without whom the amazing young performers would not have the platform to show the world their incredible talents.

This is a production that deserves a much wider audience and I’m sure if the ‘Les Mis aficionados’ would put to one side their bad experiences of amateur village hall musicals and pantomimes, they would find so much to enjoy if they ventured along to see this production. For the many thousands that missed this show I urge you not to miss their Christmas production which runs at Mayflower Studios from 20^th to 31^st December; it is Peter Pan – a BIG musical adventure and believe me, it won’t disappoint – I understand that tickets are available, but wonder for how long.