An Allestree Woodlands Production “ I dreamed a dream of days gone by……” I am delighted to welcome you to our production of the Schools Edition of ‘Les Misérables’. This musical has long been a favourite of mine and 2015 marks its 30th Anniversary in the West End in London. I can’t tell you how excited I have been since we announced ‘Les Misérables’ as our school production for 2015. This excitement is shared by all in the school and not least by those who are on stage performing for you tonight. Staging ‘Les Misérables’ has involved a huge amount of team work and commitment by students, staff, parents/carers and friends of the school. I want to say a big thank you to all those involved. So sit back and enjoy yourselves as you are transported back to 19th Century France. Sing along – but not too loudly and join me in celebrating all the talents of the ‘Les Misérables’ team. I am sure you will be enthralled and stirred and moved as you watch the show tonight and perhaps like me you will realise again the truth that “…..to love another person is to see the face of God !” Alan Brady, Headteacher ACT ONE PROLOGUE: 1815, DIGNE After 19 years on the chain gang, Jean Valjean finds that the ticket-of-leave he must display condemns him to be an outcast. Only the Bishop of Digne treats him kindly and Valjean, embittered by years of hardship, repays him by stealing some silver. Valjean is caught and brought back by the police and is astonished when the Bishop lies to the police to save him. Valjean decides to start his life anew. 1823, MONTREUIL-SUR-MER Eight years have passed and Valjean, having broken his parole and changed his name to Monsieur Madeleine, has become a factory owner and Mayor. One of his workers, Fantine, has a secret illegitimate child. When the other women discover this, they demand her dismissal. Desperate for money to pay for medicines for her daughter, Fantine sells her locket, her hair, and then joins the whores in selling herself. Utterly degraded, she gets into a fight with a prospective customer and is about to be taken to prison by Javert when ‘The Mayor’ arrives and demands she be taken to hospital instead. The Mayor then rescues a man pinned beneath a cart. Javert is reminded of the abnormal strength of convict 24601 Jean Valjean, who, he says, has just been recaptured. Valjean, unable to see an innocent man go to prison, confesses that he is prisoner 24601. At the hospital, Valjean promises the dying Fantine to find and look after her daughter Cosette. Javert arrives to arrest him, but Valjean escapes.
1823, MONTFERMEIL Cosette has been lodged with the Thénardiers, who horribly abuse her while indulging their own daughter, Eponine. Valjean pays the Thénardiers to let him take her away to Paris. 1832, PARIS Nine years later, there is unrest in the city because of the likely demise of the popular leader General Lamarque, the only man left in the government who shows any feeling for the poor. A street-gang led by Thénardier and his wife sets upon Jean Valjean and Cosette. They are rescued by Javert, who does not recognise Valjean until he has gone. The Thénardiers’ daughter Eponine, who is secretly in love with the student Marius, reluctantly agrees to help him find Cosette, with whom he has fallen in love. News of General Lamarque’s death circulates in the city and a group of politically-minded students stream out into the streets to whip up support for a revolution. Cosette is consumed by thoughts of Marius, with whom she has fallen in love. Eponine brings Marius to Cosette and then prevents an attempt by her father’s gang to rob Valjean’s house. Valjean, convinced it was Javert lurking outside his house, tells Cosette they must prepare to flee the country.
ACT TWO The students prepare to build the barricade. Marius, noticing that Eponine has joined the insurrection, sends her away with a letter to Cosette, which is intercepted by Valjean. Eponine decides to rejoin her love at the barricade. The barricade is built and the revolutionaries defy an army warning to give up or die. Javert is exposed as a police spy. In trying to return to the barricade, Eponine is killed. Valjean arrives at the barricade in search of Marius. He is given the chance to kill Javert but instead lets him go. The students settle down for a night on the barricade and, in the quiet of the night, Valjean prays to God to save Marius. The next day the rebels are all killed. Valjean escapes into the sewers with the unconscious Marius. After meeting Thénardier, who is robbing the corpses of the rebels, he comes across Javert once more. He pleads for time to deliver the young man to hospital. Javert lets Valjean go and, his unbending principles of justice having been shattered by Valjean’s own mercy, he kills himself. Unaware of the identity of his rescuer, Marius recovers in Cosette’s care. Valjean confesses the truth of his past to Marius and insists he must go away. At Marius and Cosette’s wedding, the Thénardiers try to blackmail Marius. Thénardier says Cosette’s ‘father’ is a murderer and as proof produces a ring which he stole from the corpse the night the barricade fell. It is Marius’s own ring and he realises it was Valjean who rescued him that night. He and Cosette go to Valjean where Cosette learns for the first time of her own history before the old man dies. CAST
Jean Valjean James Bubb Javert George Gatford Marius Gage Taylor Enjolras Edan Wilkinson Thénardier Luke Butcher Gavroche Tobias Kunz (Tues/Thurs) Felix Pickering-Symes (Weds) Bishop of Digne Nick Butcher Fantine Amy Rogers Young Cosette Eva Millett Cosette Katy Varney (Tues/Weds) Milly Holmes (Thurs) Young Eponine Rebecca Jones Eponine Hannah Emms Madame Thénardier Lucy Bates
ENSEMBLE Gino Anderson, Lauren Batchelor, Charlotte Bentley, Zac Brooks – Richardson, Edith Burton, Daryna Butash, Nick Butcher, Lauren Cisse, Zachary Cooper, Niamh Cripps, Michael Fletcher, Yannis Fourcade, Mia Gadsby, Annabel Hardy, Juliet Holman, Bethany Ince, Annie Ingle, Alexandra Jones, Zoë Lanser, Amy Leeson, Flo Lumsden, Jeremy Nelson, Madelaine Nelson-Raynor, Maia Martin, Aoife Mckenna, Fran Millett, Abigail Moore, Katie Morton, Kathryn Moyes, Matt Riley, Claire Roebuck, Kate Roebuck, Natalie Severn, Dain Sharratt, Sanchia Taylor, Lucy Tice, Livvie Walker, Nikola Walker, Rebekah Whaley, Katherine Wheeler, Adam Wright. PRODUCTION TEAM
Directors Donna Smith Helen Burton Andrea Burnett Darren Kay
Set Hannah Bailey Mandy Bensley Ellie Brown Amelia Cripps Jo Curtis Imi Farnsworth Billy Faulkner Bryony Horsey Stuart Marriott Ben McGirr Sagar Negi Robert Simpson
Sound and Lighting Steve Garbett, Chris Williams, Eben Till
Projection Sean Caley
Band Keyboard 1- Frankie Storer Keyboard 2- Jackie Smith Keyboard 3/Flute/Clarinet - Lisa Mills Clarinet- Jenny Allen, Clare Henley Trumpet- Nikhil Dinmore Guitar- Chris Jones Bass- Richard Hair Strings— Helen Fox-White, Kathy Lucas, Ellen Shipman
Wardrobe Helen Smith and the Production Team
Makeup Andrea Burnett
Stage Crew Pamela Arnedo Jack Campbell Smith Isaac Collins
Signers Tom Bate Julie Catherall Jo Curzon Gayle Elliott David Gould Sarah Jarvis Ruth Mill Dawn Walker Jess White Katy Varney James Bubb Amy Rogers Cosette Jean Valjean Fantine Katy is currently studying As James is an AS Level Performing Amy is a sixth-form student who level Performing Arts. She has Arts student having studied GCSE studied Drama at GCSE. She has been performing from an early Drama. He appeared in the chorus sung with school choirs and age, her first musical being of the schools performance of ‘We performed the role of Carol in the ‘Carousel’ when she was nine Will Rock You’. Outside of school school production of ‘Our Day Out’ years old. She dances frequently James has performed with the by Willy Russell . with her dance school United Saint Nicholas players and Dance, and is a keen member of Footlights. Belper Musical Theatre. Her favourite role to date is Belle in Beauty and the Beast Junior. With BMT she is currently rehearsing for the next production, ‘Kiss Me Kate’ – Due to be performed next week!
Hannah Emms Eponine Hannah is currently studying GCSE drama and is a member of AGF Milly Holmes Performing Arts and Casting. Her Cosette most recent performances have (Thurs Performance) been “Parade” and “Joseph and the Milly was a member of the Amazing Technicoloured Dreamcoat”, in both the assembly Stagecoach theatre group and Eva Millet rooms and Nottingham Theatre appeared as a sewer child in Young Cosette Royal. She has also worked with ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ at the Eva is in year 8 and has many professional actors and cast- performed in concerts at Theatre Royal Nottingham. ing directors, in training to pursue a Woodlands. She also took part in career in the industry. shows at primary school and has attended Quarndon Drama Club. Luke Butcher Lucy Bates George Gatford Thénardier Mme Thénardier Javert Luke has studied Music Btec, Lucy is an A Level performing George is a GCSE Music student GCSE Drama and AS Level arts student having studied and has sung solos and with the Performing Arts. He played Pop GCSE Drama. In school she is a school choir in many school th Woodland’s production of ‘We member of 6 Form Choir and concerts. He has also sung with Will Rock You’ and as Mr Briggs played Mrs Kay in the Drama the National Youth choir and in ‘Our Day Out’. He performed production of ‘Our Day Out’. She Derby Cathedral Choir and has in ‘Children of Hercules’ with attended Stagecoach for 3 years taken his choir leaders course. Derby LIVE. where she achieved her bronze award and performed ‘Cats’ at the NIA.
Gage Taylor Marius Gage is a GCSE Drama Tobias Kunz student. Recently he Gavroche Edan Wilkinson performed as Joseph in Tobias is in year 8. He is Enjolras ‘Joseph and the a keen performer and Edan is a GCSE Music Amazing appeared in the House student. Les Miserables plays at Woodlands. At Technicoloured is his debut primary school he Dreamcoat’ with Enfield played the title role of Felix Pickering -Symes performance here at Youth Players. His Macbeth and he Gavroche Allestree Woodlands other performances (Weds Performance) performed in a musical School. include Charlie Bates in revue at Derby Guildhall Felix is a Year 8 student ‘Oliver!’ with Kaleido- as Billy Elliot with En- and this is his first scope Players, Prince chanted Entertainment Allestree Woodlands Chulalongkorn in ‘The Summer School. School Production. King And I’ with Central Operatic and as one of the lost boys in Derby LIVE’s ‘Peter Pan’.
First Half
Prologue Chain Gang, Valjean, Javert, Bishop of Digne, Constables
At the End of the Day Foreman, Fantine, Valjean, Ensemble
I Dreamed a Dream Fantine
The Docks Javert, Valjean
The Cart Crash Valjean, Fauchevelant, Javert, Bystanders
Fantine's Death (Come to Me) Fantine, Valjean, Javert
Little Cosette Young Cosette, Madame Thenardier
Innkeeper's Song Thenardier, Mme Thenardier, Ensemble
The Bargain Thenardier, Mme Thenardier, Ensemble
The Beggars Gavroche, Enjolras, Marius, Urchin, Ensemble
The Robbery Thenardier, Mme Thenardier, Marius, Eponine, Valjean, Javert
Stars Javert
The ABC café Feuilly, Courfeyrac, Enjolras, Joly, Grantaire, Lesgles, Marius, Gavroche
The People’s Song Enjolras Courfevrac, Joly, Feuilly, Grantaire, Lesgles, Marius
Rue Plummet Cosette, Valjean, Marius, Eponine
A Heart Full of Love Marius, Cosette, Eponine
Attack on Rue Plummet Thenardier, Eponine, Marius, Valjean,Cosette
One Day More Valjean, Marius, Cosette, Eponine, Enjolras, Javert, Thenardier, Mme Thenardier
Second Half
The Barricade Enjolras, Javert, Marius, Eponine, Valjean
Javert at the Barricade Javert, Gavroche, Enjolras, Marius, Eponine, Valjean
The First Attack Policemen, Enjolras, Students
The Night Marius, Valjean, Enjolras, Ensemble
The Second Attack Enjolras, Marius, Valjean, Gavroche
The Final Battle Army Officer, Enjolras, Marius, Valjean
The Sewers Thenardier
Javert's Suicide Javert
The Cafe Song Marius
Marius and Cosette Marius, Cosette, Valjean
The Wedding Major D’Omo, Thenardier, Mme Thenardier, Marius
Epilogue Valjean, Fantine, Marius, Cosette, Eponine Thank You!
Working on a challenging musical of this enormous scale has been the most amazing and challenging experience for The Production Team. There are a huge amount of people we must thank for helping to make tonight’s performance possible. We would like to thank the following people:
The parents and family members who have supported rehearsals, provided costumes and helped the students The staff and sixth formers who have front of house and with ‘dressing room’ duty The PFTA for providing and selling refreshments Our lovely caretaking team All of the staff involved in making tonight possible: the band, crew, and technical team Good Companions Stage Society for the loan of tankards Four Blokes Theatre Company for the loan of crates and props Derby Theatre for the loan of some costumes. Anderson Electrical Ltd who donated and delivered all of the pallettes and cardboard used for the barricade and cart Photography done by Simon Oldham Programme done by Deborah Tate
Our biggest thanks MUST of course go to the students themselves who have worked so hard since last summer to prepare for tonight’s performance. To say we are proud of each and everyone of them is an understatement. A big well done to you all! Much Love The Production Team Lead Production Team
Helen Burton Helen has worked in 4 secondary schools teaching Drama, Dance and Performing Arts and during that time has produced and choreographed a number of school productions including “Our Day Out”, “Grease”, “Bugsy Malone” and “We Will Rock You”. Alongside teaching in secondary schools, Helen has also taught drama, ballet and L to R—Helen Burton, Donna Smith, Andrea Burnett, Darren Kay tap at Spotlight School in Allestree. Outside of school Helen is an active member of a number of local amateur theatre companies. She has been part of the production team as well as performing in the chorus, as a dancer and in principle roles. Her favourite principle roles have been Anna in the “King and I” (Central Operatic) and Mrs Molloy in “Hello Dolly!” (Good Companions Stage Society). She is currently choreographer for “Addams Family the Musical” for HMTC. Helen is also a member of Cantata performing across the East Midlands. A former student of Allestree Woodlands School she got the bug whilst taking part in school productions and is delighted to be producing “Les Misérables “.
Donna Smith Donna has been teaching Music at Allestree woodlands for 15 years and during that time has directed and produced many concerts and school productions, including Annie and We Will Rock You. Outside of school Donna has also been involved with musical societies. She has been chorus mistress for Beeston Operatics society's production of Me and My Girl and has also choreographed their stage version of “Jesus Christ Superstar”. In 2001 she worked with Central Operatic society and was chorus mistress for their performance of “My Fair Lady”. Last march she was privileged to work with Central again, this time taking on her first principle role as Peep-Bo in the “Hot Mikado”. Donna is a member of Cantata ensemble and regularly performs in concerts around the East Midlands. “Les Misérables” has been the most challenging musical to date but also the most rewarding. To help produce and musically direct the show has been a dream.
Andrea Burnett Mrs Burnett trained in English Literature and Theatre studies, focussing on directing, costume and make up in her finals. She has directed for a local theatre company and won a prestigious Eagle Award for best newcomer. She also has experience directing a musical and has performed in many musicals and plays. She has been singing and acting from an early age and still performs outside of school in a professional capacity. Mrs Burnett has taught drama and exams for London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts before coming an English teacher here at Woodlands.
Darren Kay Darren has performed in many plays and musicals most recently “Sweet Charity”, “Rent”, and “Les Misérables” and even extended acting at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival during a 5 day world premiere performance of the book ''The Baby and the Fly Pie'' by Melvin Burgess. Before starting at Woodlands, Darren has also toured work through his major of Clowning and Physical Theatre at university. Darren has also directed shows such as The Seagull, Blood Wedding and Act without Words by Samuel Beckett. Les Mis at Woodlands marks Darren's debut musical direction.