The stage at the Arts Centre

Les Misérables

Elizabeth performed in Les Misérables this week with Leading Lights, an Aberdeen-based youth musical theatre group. There were five shows starting on Wednesday and finishing last night. Ben and I went to the matinee yesterday and as always we’re impressed with the amount of talent on display. This was Elizabeth’s third and final year with Leading Lights as she’ll be heading off to university when they do their show next year.

Les Miserables poster

She absolutely loved being part of the production and, after all the excitement and highs of this week, has understandably felt a bit deflated today now that it’s over. There were some disappointments for her too. She would have loved the opportunity to play a principal role during her three years with Leading Lights but such is the nature of this industry: there are so many talented individuals and few parts to go around.

Elizabeth in costume back stage

She auditioned for all four female roles in Les Misérables but wasn’t successful. I was particularly proud of how she handled that disappointment. She accepted it with grace and maturity, then threw everything she had into being part of the ensemble – and she did it marvellously.

The stage at the Arts Centre
A selfie of me and Ben in the audience

What’s next? She’ll be in The Addams family next summer with the Beyond Broadway Experience and she’s excited for that.


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Comments

3 responses to “Les Misérables”

  1. TheatreFan Avatar

    I remember a time when my local community theatre lacked such professional production quality.

    1. Rachel M Avatar

      We’re lucky in Aberdeen to have several musical theatre groups and theatres putting on very professional productions.

  2. Denise Avatar

    Our local group (adults) is putting Joseph on and I am very aware that so many talented local women won’t have big parts in it because they are mainly male parts. It would be a really big thing to get one of the leading female parts when there are only 4. Our school did Into the Woods one year and there are lots more female parts, which a few of my friends played. Hopefully there will be more productions that Elizabeth can take part in as a student and as an adult, with this experience being good preparation.

    I can’t imagine having the skills to even audition for a musical, she has done really well.

    When I worked in schools, the pupils were always terribly sad when a production was over. I really feel for Elizabeth. Also friends who’ve worked on eg stand up shows. It’s such a powerful force that everyone brings together, and then it’s over. But strong memories, even now I remember the production my friends were in.

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