After offering a similar exhibition for last years hit season of The Lion King, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) have opened up a free exhibition in their Tony Gould Gallery for Les Misérables. Known as ‘Les Misérables From Page to Stage’ and launched to coincide with Les Misérables’ 30th Anniversary (It was first performed on October 8th 1985), this exhibition seeks to provide a glimpse into the making and global success of this record-breaking musical, and also includes items from Producer Cameron Mackintosh’s own collection.
Following a similar ‘From Page to Stage’ exhibition in Melbourne, this exhibition features a fair number of items on display, including: posters from the show’s history (including non-English performances), photographs from rehearsals and the first performances in London (and more recent performances), memorabilia, costumes and more.
The exhibition will be open from Tuesday to Saturday, running from 10AM to 4PM during these days. Entry is free, and in my opinion is something worthwhile walking through if you are in the area OR are attending a matinee session of Strictly Ballroom / Les Misérables / *Insert your show at QPAC here* and have some time beforehand. It will be open to the public until Les Misérables finishes its run at QPAC – which has tickets currently on sale for sessions from 10th November 2015 until 10th January 2015.
From London, Cameron Mackintosh had this to say about the exhibition:
I am delighted that the hugely successful Les Misérables From Page to Stage exhibition which my Archivist Rosy Runciman put together with Tim Fisher and Anais Lellouche at the State Library of Victoria is being brought to Brisbane to coincide with the run of my acclaimed new production of Les Misérables.
I am sure audiences will find it fascinating to see how Victor Hugo inspired Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Herbert Kretzmer to create this unique musical and how the power of their interpretation of Hugo’s dramatic, passionate and moving story has inspired, touched and resonated with people all around the world.
QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas had this to say:
Following Melbourne, Brisbane is only the second city in the world to host this exhibition.
QPAC offers opportunities for all people to meaningfully connect with and through the arts, both on and off the stage. We invite visitors to come and take a closer look at this world renowned production in this unique way.
Check back tomorrow for my interview with QPAC Museum Curator Christopher Smith.
