Samantha Barks, who played Éponine in the film adaptation and West End production of Les Misérables, will return to the London staging of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg hit musical at the Sondheim Theatre prior to joining the cast of the show’s Arena World Tour.
Barks—who has also had leading roles in Pretty Woman on Broadway, Frozen in London, and the world premiere of The Greatest Showman—will play eight performances as Fantine May 18–23 at the Sondheim before joining the international tour at Birmingham Utilita Arena, London’s Royal Albert Hall, and New York’s Radio City Music Hall.
First discovered by Les Misérables producer Cameron Mackintosh in the I’d Do Anything TV search to play Nancy in his West End production of Oliver!, Barks says in a statement, “Returning to Les Misérables in
the West End feels like a true full-circle moment. Sixteen years ago, I
first stepped into Éponine’s shoes, with so much still to learn. Now, I
return with a deeper understanding of the story and its heart, to take
on Fantine—I always wanted to return one day as Fantine, and it feels even more meaningful in this chapter of my life as a mother. This
show has shaped so much of my journey, both on stage and on screen, and
I’m incredibly grateful to revisit it with fresh perspective. London is where it all began for me, and to be back here telling this story again is incredibly special for me.”
Barks will join a West End cast that includes Ian McIntosh as Jean Valjean, Sam Oladeinde as Javert, Harry Hepple as Thénardier, Lizzie Bea as Madame Thénardier, Thiago Phillip Felizardo as Marius, Izzi Levine as Cosette, Jess Folley as Éponine, and Joe Griffiths-Brown as Enjolras. Martha Kirby will return as Fantine May 25.
The company is completed by Hollie
Aires, Hazel Baldwin, Ella May Carter, Nicholas Carter, Matthew Dale,
Irfan Damani, Lily De-La-Haye, Lila Falce-Bass, Sophie-May Feek, Jessica
Johns-Parsons, Seán Keany, Chris Kiely, Sam Kipling, Mia Lamb, Sarah
Lark, Ollie Llewelyn-Williams, Matthew McConnell, Aaron-Jade Morgan,
Adam Pearce, William Pennington, Jordan Simon Pollard, Lewis Renninson,
Danielle Rose, Georgia Tapp, Noah Thallon, Imaan Victoria, Danny Whelan, and Ollie Wray.
This production officially opened January 16, 2020, following previews that began December 18, 2019.
Les Misérables is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg and is based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It has music by
Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, original French text by
Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, additional material by James Fenton, and an
adaptation by Trevor Nunn and John Caird.
Watch Brand-New Trailer for West End’s Les Misérables
Directed by James Powell and Laurence Connor, the Cameron Mackintosh
production also features orchestrations by Stephen Metcalfe, Christopher
Jahnke, and Stephen Brooker with original orchestrations by John
Cameron, designs by Matt Kinley (inspired by the paintings of Victor
Hugo), costumes by Andreane Neofitou and Christine Rowland, lighting by
Paule Constable, sound by Mick Potter, musical staging by Michael
Ashcroft and Geoffrey Garratt, and music supervision by Stephen Brooker
and Alfonso Casado Trigo.
Les Misérables has
been seen by over 150 million people worldwide in 55 countries, 452
cities, and has been translated into 22 languages. It has won over
270 major awards around the world, among which five Olivier Awards
(including a
special recognition award in April 2025), eight Tony Awards and five
Helpmann
Awards, and the movie won three Oscars.
The international hit musical last played Broadway in 2016.