About the event
Legendary Global Hit
The musical Les Misérables is a global sensation with decades of acclaimed performances on Broadway and the West End. It was first staged in Zagreb in 1982, and now, after more than 40 years, it returns to the Komedija Theatre. Get ready for an emotional story of struggle, love, and resistance, brought to life by unforgettable music.
Calendar
Photo by: Darja Štravs Tisu
Photo highlights
Interesting facts
- The musical was not initially a great success and early reviews were very poor.
- The iconic logo is based on a drawing made by Émile Bayard for Victor Hugo’s novel.
- Each performance of the stage show uses 392 costumes and 85 wigs.
- A technical malfunction during one pre-Broadway matinee led to $120,000 in ticket refunds.
“Bring Him Home” was sung at Muppets creator Jim Henson’s memorial service. - Les Misérables is the fifth longest-running Broadway musical of all time.
- Les Misérables is the longest-running musical in London’s West End, having overtaken The Phantom of the Opera. With its powerful story and unforgettable music, it has been a top attraction for many years, captivating audiences all over the world.
- Among the best known songs from Les Misérables are “I Dreamed a Dream”, sung by Fantine, and the hymn of the French Revolution “Do You Hear the People sing?”.
- Les Misérables has been translated into numerous languages and staged in more than 40 countries around the world.
- Following its success as a stage show, Les Misérables was adapted for the screen in 2012. The film version was directed by Tom Hooper and starred Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried.
- The musical has won numerous prestigious awards, including a Tony Award for Best Musical and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical.
- Les Misérables is one of the most successful musicals of all time, with more than 70 million people worldwide having seen a production and more than 120 million CDs sold.
Production and sponsors
Programme
Team and cast
Team
Cast
More information
Les Misérables is one of the most popular musicals of all time, as demonstrated by a successful Broadway run lasting more than a quarter of a century, eight Tony Awards and the title of the longestrunning show in London’s West End. Among its innumerable cinematic and theatrical incarnations, Les Misérables has a special connection with the capital of neighbouring Croatia, since it was first staged in Zagreb before it became famous around the world (1982), a mere year and a half after its Paris premiere. That production at Zagreb’s Komedija Theatre was even seen by the original French librettists Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, who are on record as being extremely pleased with the performance.
Yet more than 40 years would have to pass for this story – encompassing the relentless police persecution of the social outcast Jean Valjean, his moral dilemmas, parental love, student revolts and the challenges faced by those at the bottom of society – to return to the Komedija stage. In the intervening years, the Komedija Theatre has continued its artistic mission and become famous for its first-rate productions of comedies, operettas and musicals. It was, in fact, this theatre that was responsible for the success of the famous Yugoslav musical Yalta, Yalta. We may be sure, then, that one of the most important specialised theatres in the region will provide a top-flight musical spectacle, interwoven with unforgettable musical numbers such as I Dreamed a Dream and Do You Hear the People Sing?
Free rides on LPP city buses
Ticket holders for events within the 73rd Ljubljana Festival are entitled to free rides on LPP city buses within two hours before the start and two hours after the end of each event.
Accessibility for visitors with reduced mobility
Festival Ljubljana is committed to ensuring a welcoming and accessible experience at cultural events for persons with reduced mobility.
Selected venues offer designated wheelchair-accessible spaces as well as seating for accompanying persons. Wheelchair users can inquire about availability and reserve accessible seating by calling +386 (0)1 241 60 28 or emailing blagajna@ljubljanafestival.si.
