Guernsey students stage sell-out Les Misérables performances

Thursday, 30 January 2025 12:45

Four Guernsey schools are collaborating on a production of Les Misérables, to celebrate the musical's 40th year on the West End.

Around 70 students have been rehearsing the iconic songs and dances from the musical adaptation of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables since September.

Tonight (30 January) they put on the third and final performance to yet another sold-out crowd at the Performing Arts Centre.

Drama teacher Maggie King says she is incredibly proud of the year 7 to 12 students for acting so professionally.

She says the Guernsey connection to Victor Hugo was important for her to teach.

"Victor Hugo wrote the original story here when he was in exile from France, and we as a community are quite proud of that - it is close to our heart I think.

"It is great to teach the students about the June Uprising and the fact that Hugo was involved in them. He was there in the street and had to kneel in a doorway to escape gunfire.

"Learning about that makes it much more immediate. It is about real events but is obviously dramatised - but it gives you that edge of excitement."

The students are from The Ladies’ College, Elizabeth College, Les Varendes and the College of Further Education.

Maggie says they work well together.

"It is a great opportunity for not only different ages to mix and work together towards a common goal but also across different schools to come together and widen our community and make new friends and connections."

The children also put on a matinee (afternoon) performance for their peers this week to share the historical, theatrical and collaborative spirit.