The Workshop Players presents 'Les Miserablés’ 

The Workshop Players are back yet again with another classical theatre production to be staged in October. The theatre company needs little introduction; from their inception in 1992, Jerome De Silva and his team have made a name for themselves with extravagant theatre productions and show stopping musicals.

Since their first play, ‘Lost in the Stars’, these theatre enthusiasts have kept one great show after another coming our way.  Just last year, their production of “Phantom of the Opera” was the talk of the town. In previous years, they’ve staged plays like “Evita”, “Oliver” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” amongst many others.

This year, the Workshop Players will present an amateur production of ‘Les Miserablés’ based on Victor Hugo’s novel of the same name, with music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, original French lyrics by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, and the English-language libretto by Herbert Kretzmer. The tale of Jean Valjean and his quest for redemption in the revolutionary era France is a story that every avid reader has enjoyed in their time.

“Les Mis is a story that’s very close to a lot of peoples’ hearts,” says director and founder of the Workshop Players, Jerome De Silva. “Our play is full of emotion. It’s a fantastic piece of work and right now it’s coming off beautifully!”

With music by Surein de S. Wijeyeratne and choreography by Shanuki de Alwis, the cast of 70 is set to feature some of Colombo’s most well-known actors and singers.

This show is the first amateur production of Les Miserablés in Asia and is set to redefine stage technology in Colombo. Breaking away from the traditional revolving stage that governed the play for the last 25 years, this show will feature an array of technological effects and video mapping.

Les Miserablés will go on the boards of the Lionel Wendt from 1st – 11th October. Tickets are priced at Rs. 3500, 2500, 1500, 600 (Balcony) and will be available along with the box plan from the 15th of September 2015.

By Panchali Illankoon
Photographs courtesy Andre Perera