Less Miserable And More Powerful: A Concert-Style Les Misérables Opens In Singapore

My first experience of Les Misérables was the musical that showed in Singapore in 2016. A whole 10 years later, the despair and desperation of the characters still ring fresh in my mind and I remember the tears welling up in my eyes as the cast performed "Do You Hear The People Sing". That's just how powerful that musical was.

Hearing that this year's LES MISÉRABLES THE ARENA SPECTACULAR is a concert rather than a full musical production, I scaled back my expectations, but was pleasantly surprised. Even in a concert format, it delivered the same emotional impact and even had elements from the musical.

The Singapore season runs from 24 March to 10 May 2026 at Marina Bay Sands, marking the final stop in Asia for this sell-out World Tour. With a company of over 65 internationally acclaimed cast and orchestra members, enhanced by new set and lighting designs, the production brings Cameron Mackintosh's critically acclaimed staging to the arena.

More Than Just a Concert

There's a reason why it's called The Arena Spectacular and not a concert - it's because it's not an ordinary concert at all. The orchestra is set on stage instead of the pit, which leaves a smaller space for the actors, but that didn't get in the way of an immersive set at all.

Photo from Danny Kaan

An impoverished 19th-century France is brought to life with the actors are dressed in period costumes and slathered in dirt, while the stage is dressed in props and an elevated balcony platform. Performances are enhanced with lighting fixtures that transform for dramatic effect as well as screens used thoughtfully to let the audience see the actors' expressions up close. All scenes are fully acted out, not just sung, and there's even some choreography.

More scenes worked than didn't for this format. Rather than speaking their lines directly to each other like in a musical, the actors mostly faced the audience. But unlike a typical concert, they still performed their characters' movements. For example, two actors would stand a metre apart, both facing forward. One would give a slap towards the audience, and the other would react to that slap with a flinch.

Photo from Johan Persson

It felt a little odd, but did not break the immersion, and it's a testament to the cast that the atmosphere of these scenes was still sombre. In the hands of a less skilled actor, Javert's death scene would have bordered on comical. In the 2016 musical, the actor seems to "fall" into the Seine using stage tricks. Here, the actor simply leaned back and flailed his arms, remaining on stage even after his death. Somehow, it still worked as Jeremy Secomb performs a visceral portrayal of Javert's breakdown and hysteria, keeping the moment fully dramatic.

An Internationally Acclaimed Cast

Speaking of the cast, the Singapore season is led by an outstanding international company including Gerónimo Rauch as Jean Valjean and Na-Young Jeon as Fantine.

Of course, the legendary Lea Salonga is in it and she puts the spectacular in THE AREA SPECTACULAR. Playing Madame Thénardier, she's completely unrecognisable in costume and full of cheeky energy while delivering a flawless vocal performance.

Photo from Matt Crockett

The Singaporean Nathania Ong delivers a moving performance as Éponine. Her rendition of On My Own brought Samantha Barks' movie version to mind, but she adds her own interpretation of the character in other subtle ways - coy glances at Marius and her innocent, hopeful expressions when she's not centre stage.

Photo from Johan Persson

Should you get tickets to Les Mis? Yes, lest you miss the chance to experience this iconic musical performed by world-class talents.

Get your tickets at marinabaysands.com, sistic.com.sg or klook.com from $88.