AN INDEPENDENT LES MISÉRABLES FIELD GUIDE · ENGLISH + עבריתFOR THE CURIOUS. THE MOVED. THE HIGH-NOTE ENTHUSIASTS.
LesMisNotesA LES MISÉRABLES FIELD GUIDE
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07 / BEHIND THE GUIDE

Even feelings
deserve footnotes.

The creators, context, figures and sources behind this guide. Interpretive writing is framed as a question or a point of view.

How the guide is made

1832, not 1789

The uprising in the story is Paris’s June 1832 rebellion. Hugo incorporates that event into the novel’s world; the musical adapts that world for the stage. A barricade does not make every event the same revolution.

Music Theatre International: full stage synopsis and character guide (opens in a new tab)Victor Hugo: Les Misérables, full novel (Hapgood translation, public domain) (opens in a new tab)

How to read this guide

Plot facts were checked against musical and novel sources; screen details against producers, distributors and catalogs. Listening questions, comparisons and thematic lenses are our original prompts, not quotations from the creators.

A small, important note

This is an independent, unofficial fan site. It has no commercial affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement from rights holders. The main illustration is original stage-and-Paris-inspired artwork, not an official poster or historical photograph.

From novel to stage

The musical adapts Hugo's novel, with music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, and English lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. Credits also include additional material by James Fenton and adaptation and original direction by Trevor Nunn and John Caird.

Music Theatre International · Musical creative credits (opens in a new tab)Music Theatre International · Show history (opens in a new tab)
1980
Paris

The French version opened at the Palais des Sports in September 1980, directed by Robert Hossein.

Music Theatre International · Show history (opens in a new tab)
1985
London

The English-language version opened at the Barbican on 8 October 1985, produced by Cameron Mackintosh and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird.

Music Theatre International · Show history (opens in a new tab)
1987
Broadway

The production opened at New York's Broadway Theatre on 12 March 1987.

Music Theatre International · Show history (opens in a new tab)
2012
From stage to screen

Tom Hooper directed the musical film based on the stage adaptation.

Working Title Films · Les Misérables (2012) (opens in a new tab)
BIG NUMBERS, WITH FOOTNOTES

A little perspective.

Official producer figures alongside institutional sources.

150M+

Worldwide audience

Over 150 million viewers worldwide, according to the official London About page. Cumulative producer figure.

About the show — official London website (opens in a new tab)
57

Countries

The official London production website reports 57 countries. Cumulative producer figure.

About the show — official London website (opens in a new tab)
22

Languages

The official London production website reports 22 languages. Cumulative producer figure.

About the show — official London website (opens in a new tab)
8

Tony Awards in 1987

Eight Tony wins in 1987, including Best Musical. 1987 awards.

Tony Awards official 1987 winners archive (opens in a new tab)
1862

The novel reaches readers

Victor Hugo's novel was first published in 1862. First publication: 1862.

Bibliothèque nationale de France work authority record (opens in a new tab)
40

Years celebrated in London in 2025

London celebrated the musical's 40th anniversary on 8 October 2025. Milestone: 8 October 2025.

Cameron Mackintosh official history, 2025 section (opens in a new tab)
455

Cities

Cumulative worldwide reach over the years, according to the official London About page.

About the show — official London website (opens in a new tab)

Figures and sources in this block were checked on 10 October 2026; producer totals are cumulative, not a live counter.

Privacy, access & rights

What stays here?

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YouTube, directly on the page

YouTube players appear directly with the selected performance, without an extra permission screen or autoplay. Loading a player connects to YouTube. We use privacy-enhanced mode; it does not promise zero data collection.

YouTube Help · Embedding and privacy-enhanced mode (opens in a new tab)YouTube · Terms of Service (opens in a new tab)

Respect for the source

There are no full lyrics, lyric translations, scores or downloadable media here. Videos remain with their publishers. Rights in the original novel, translations, adaptations, images and recordings are separate matters.

Access & choice

Keyboard navigation, full reading direction in each language, reduced-motion support and opt-in spoilers. Video captions and availability depend on the publisher and YouTube. External links open in a new tab.

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VERIFY, EXPLORE, RETURN

The shelf behind the guide

Source catalogue updated 11 October 2026. External sources may contain spoilers.

Each destination is listed once here. The links beside the guide’s text still take you to the source used for that point. External pages may contain spoilers.

The complete catalogue is here. Choose a topic or search by title, creator or website; reveal another 24 sources at a time.

Showing 24 of 204 matching sources · 204 in the full catalogue

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