Legendary musical Les Misérables debuted at Sunderland's Empire Theatre this week and knocked the socks off everyone there with a stunning performance.
The Cameron Mackintosh production will have a near three-week run at Sunderland Empire ending on November 19 and there are still some tickets left for anyone wanting a last minute treat!
And in my humble opinion, you'd be a fool not to.
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Having been in an amateur production of Les Mis in a former life, I know all the songs by heart but was yet to actually see a professional performance live.
I anticipated a spectacle but I wasn't expecting it to be quite so breath-taking. This must be the most high-budget show I have ever seen with incredible special effects, intricate sets being changed seamlessly, beautiful costumes and the cream of the crop cast. Every voice on the stage was exceptional.
The production, created by Mackintosh in 2009 to celebrate the show's 25-year anniversary, has proved a worldwide hit, seen by around 130 million people over the years.
Understudy Will Barratt brought the house down with his turn as Jean Valjean - the embattled lead character who the story centres around. He captivated the audience with his strong stage presence and vocal talent to boot. His rendition of Bring Him Home genuinely gave me goosebumps and warranted a well-deserved extended applause.
The role of tragic character Fantine was played by Lauren Drew who brought a raw vulnerability to her performance and evidently left quite a few people in tears with her rendition of the classic I Dreamed a Dream.
Another notable performance came from little Geordie actor Lucas Melrose-Steel who pulled at the heartstrings in the role of Gavroche. His cheeky Geordie accent amongst the chaos of the French Revolution scenes was a welcome treat.
The role of heartbroken Éponine was taken on by Siobhan O'Driscoll who enthralled the audience with her performance of another iconic musical number On My Own.
But the stand out performance for me has to be from Nic Greenshields as Javert - the role ever so slightly butchered by Russell Crowe in the movie adaptation (sorry Russell).
The formidable actor towered above the rest of the cast which only added to the essence of the role. But his booming baritone vocals - which he really got to show off in Stars - were utterly sensational. The sparring scenes between Javert and Jean Valjean were some of the most entertaining to watch.
Samuel Wyn-Morris was also absolutely captivating in the role of Enjolras and Paige Blankson's stunning soprano as Cosette was definitely memorable.
The goosebumps returned when Will Callan as Marius belted out Empty Chairs at Empty Tables with the 'ghosts' of his fellow fallen soldiers behind.
And has anyone ever managed to keep the lump out of their throat or stopped the tears rolling as the first act closes with One Day More? I highly doubt it.
Lastly, the magnificent orchestra fully deserves a mention. It's the kind of score that truly takes your breath away and hearing it live is unforgettable.
If you're able to snatch up some last minute tickets and get yourself along, I highly recommend it.
A completely well deserved five stars from me.
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