It’s hard to believe now, but when Les Misérables premiered at London’s Barbican Theatre in 1985, produced by Cameron Mackintosh and the Royal Shakespeare Company, reviews were mixed and the planned West End transfer was in doubt.

But queues quickly formed at the box office as tickets were snapped up. The people had spoken. Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s stirring musical – which is still running in London’s West End – is now one of the most popular musicals of all time.

James D. Gish as Enjolras with the company of Les Misérables The Arena Spectcular. Photo © Danny Kaan

To celebrate its 40th anniversary in October this year, Cameron Mackintosh has put together an arena spectacular, now on a world tour. Directed by James Powell and Jean-Pierre van der Spuy, it features an international cast including Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean and Michael Ball as Inspector Javert.

The Australian premiere of Les Misérables opened in 1987. We have seen several productions since, including Mackintosh’s 25th-anniversary staging, which arrived here in 2014. Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular is a concert version, with powerful new orchestrations (Mick Potter) and...