Les Miserables Staged Concert featuring Michael Ball available for digital download
From today, the all-star staged concert version of Les Miserables has been made available for digital download, with some funds being donated to Captain Tom Moore's NHS fund.
The special production was staged in the West End last year, when the original West End production was closed at the Queen's Theatre for refurbishments to the building, and so a star-studded cast was assembled to take part in the limited-run production along Shaftesbury Avenue at the Gielgud Theatre.
Starring Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Matt Lucas, and Carrie Hope Fletcher, the show was filmed for a limited cinematic release, and that film is now being made available for digital download, with proceeds from sales being donated to charity and shared between Captain Tom Moore's charity fund, Acting for Others, the Musicians Union Coronavirus Hardship Fund.
Setting out with an initial £1,000 goal, 99-year-old Captain Tom Moore from Bedfordshire, England, began raising money for the National Health Service by completing 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday. In a little over a week, he has raised over £27million.
Michael Ball became involved when he performed the Rodgers and Hammerstein number "You'll Never Walk Alone" for Captain Tom on television upon completion of his laps, and went on to release a cover version of the track - featuring the voices of Moore and the NHS Voices Choir.
The download is available for £9.99 from 20th April, with The Mackintosh Foundation - which donated an initial £100,000 sum - donating £5 for every download. It is available to download from lesmis.com/concert.
Announcing the release of the film, Cameron Mackintosh said: "In these extraordinary times we hope that fans and everyone who loves the theatre will be reminded of how special a theatrical experience can be, going to the very heart of our British culture, which make our nation so special and unique.
"I am exceptionally proud of everyone involved in the making of the Concert and very much hope my Foundation will be able to help a raise a considerable amount of money for these deserving charities."
Mackintosh also added that a mini-documentary titled Bringing It Home will be released, including footage of the cast at home talking about their experiences of live theatre, the concert, and backstage footage.
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