Do You Hear the Pupils Sing?

Do You Hear the Pupils Sing? A Tri-School Triumph in Les Misérables

Pupils from The Manchester Grammar School, alongside their peers from Manchester High School for Girls and Withington Girls’ School, have collaborated to produce a remarkable rendition of Les Misérables. Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, Les Misérables follows the story of Jean Valjean, a former prisoner on the run from relentless police inspector Javert. Valjean seeks redemption by helping Fantine, a destitute factory worker, and rescuing her daughter Cosette from cruel innkeepers. Marius, a veteran of the post-French Revolution conflict, falls in love with Cosette, but their lives are forever altered by the brutal realities of war. Pupils from year 4 to year 13 across all three schools participated in this ambitious production, showcasing exceptional dedication, hard work, and stamina across three evening performances in the MGS Cryne Theatre, with each performance running nearly three hours.

Year 13 pupil and Vice Captain for 2024-25, Jake, played the lead role of Jean Valjean and reflected on his experience: “Working as Jean Valjean in MGS’ production of Les Misérables has been an extraordinary privilege. After playing Caiaphas in Jesus Christ Superstar in 2022, I was delighted to have the opportunity to portray such a memorable (and completely contrasting) character, in a show that has always been one of my favourites. Immediately, I was struck by the magnitude of Valjean’s character development: despite the cruelty he suffers as an impoverished former convict, he manages to lead an honest life. The acting nuance required to convey this (not to mention the demanding vocal range of the character) has certainly proved a challenge, particularly in such well-known songs as Who Am I? and Bring Him Home. Therefore, I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the Music and Drama staff for their invaluable support and wisdom, as well as my fellow cast members, who have pushed and inspired me throughout the rehearsal process. I am also extremely grateful to the tech team, backstage crew, and orchestra, who have taken this production to a whole new level."

"I have learned so much from this experience, and I hope to take these skills with me as I continue my performing journey. This is likely to be my final production at MGS, and I couldn’t think of a better show and company to finish with!"

Year 13 pupil Solly played Javert: “Working as Javert in Les Mis has been a highlight of my time at MGS. The role of Javert has taken me to new heights since I played Priest 3 in MGS's production of Jesus Christ Superstar in 2022. I feel humbled to have been selected to perform such a well-respected, vocally difficult role, and the skills I have gained from the challenge have been priceless: I have met new friends, improved my sight-singing, and faced the hurdle of acting as antagonist, something I've never done before. I've loved the rehearsals and the togetherness of the group, and I am so appreciative of the stage crew, the tech team, orchestra, and directorial team for their support in putting on this production.”

Year 13 pupil Shai took on the role of Marius: “Performing a principal role in an MGS musical was something I aspired to from the moment I joined the school in Year 7. After being part of the Jesus Christ Superstar production in Year 10, auditioning for a character in Les Misérables was an easy decision. I’m delighted to be playing Marius Pontmercy, a technically demanding role that has required me to extend my natural baritone range to a tenor—something I’ve worked on extensively with my singing teacher, Mr Beer. The songs have presented various challenges with tricky chromatic lines and irregular timings for vocal entries, but these are all things I've taken in my stride. The experience has been incredibly rewarding, especially sharing the stage with some of my closest friends and an amazing cast, which has created a great natural chemistry among us all. Given the size of the production, special mention and thanks must be made to all the staff who helped with the orchestra, the set, the tech and the staging—without whom the show would have been impossible to pull off. While Les Mis won’t be my final musical involvement at MGS before I leave to study Music at university, it will certainly be one of my fondest memories.”

Year 13 pupil Jasper took on a new challenge behind the scenes as Assistant Director: “Having previously been involved in theatre only from an actor's standpoint, taking on the role of Assistant Director has certainly been a new challenge, but one that I have enjoyed immensely. With a cast of around fifty, I was slightly daunted by the task ahead, but everybody involved has been so responsive and dedicated, making the process rewarding and enjoyable. I’ve also gained a wealth of knowledge about theatre, which, as a Drama A-level student, I know will be incredibly valuable. Plus, with the amount of time I've spent working on Les Mis, I’ve now become such a fan that I’m pretty sure I could sing Do You Hear the People Sing? in my sleep! Of course, this show couldn't have gone ahead without the time and energy of countless people involved, and I'd especially like to thank the tech team, the music teachers, and Miss Baldwin for their hard work in bringing this brilliant musical to life.”

Year 9 MGS pupil Will, who played Gavroche, shared his thoughts: “Playing Gavroche in Les Misérables has been an amazing experience. Les Mis has been a staple in my house for a long time, so I feel hugely privileged to have been able to play such a cheeky, likeable character. Learning the intricacies of being on stage has been challenging but very rewarding, and I have been lucky to be surrounded by incredible singers and talented actors who have supported me throughout all the rehearsals. Developing new friendships and improving my musical ability have been just some of the things I’ve enjoyed over the past few months, and I definitely plan to be involved in future productions after loving this one so much.”

Year 12 pupil Emily, from Withington Girls’ School, played Cosette: “I’ve really enjoyed working at MGS to put on the production of Les Misérables. It’s always been one of my favourite musicals, and Cosette has been a dream role for me. My friends and I at WGS have been excited since learning we could be part of this musical, as it’s so well-known and loved by many of us. One of my favourite memories was from the first rehearsal, walking into the music room and seeing all the character names on chairs and feeling that initial mix of fear and excitement as we sang our parts for the first time. Playing Cosette has been especially meaningful to me, and it’s been amazing to work alongside such talented musicians and see the progress we’ve all made."

"The teachers and directors have been so inspirational and transformative in bringing the show together. I’ve also really enjoyed seeing the production come to life with props, lighting, costumes, and microphones. I’ve made new friends and strengthened bonds with those I already knew, and the experience of putting on this show has been truly unifying."

Year 13 pupil Meira, from Withington Girls’ School, played Fantine: “Taking part in Les Mis has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my school life. I play Fantine, a role I’ve dreamed of ever since watching Anne Hathaway in the film version. From the beginning, it’s been incredible to watch the production come to life—from simple note-learning to blocking scenes on stage in full costume. The opportunity to perform in such a large-scale production at our age has been unforgettable. Working alongside pupils from other schools, making new friends, and forming connections while doing something we all love has been a real privilege.”

Year 4 pupil Edie, from Withington Girls' School, played Young Cosette: "I had a really great time playing Young Cosette in Les Miserables. I had an important solo to sing and it was my first time acting and singing on stage.  At first, I was a little bit nervous, but then I got so inspired by the older cast members. They were brilliant! The more rehearsals I did, the more confident I felt. I found it quite amazing having a live orchestra right below my feet because it is so powerful. All the cast were so friendly and caring to me when I was back stage. They really looked after me and I felt part of the team. The wonderful costumes and other cast members made me feel like it was actually happening and that helped me act as Cosette. It made everything seem so real- so magical! I would love to do more shows like this because I have discovered that I really like acting. It was such an exciting experience!"

Congratulations to all the pupils involved in this outstanding production, both those performing on stage and, equally importantly, those working behind the scenes. A special mention goes to the talented pupils and staff who formed the orchestra, delivering truly magnificent music that beautifully accompanied the singing throughout.