Meath's very own Killian Donnelly will play ‘Jean Valjean’ in the forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of the Boublil and Schönberg musical LES MISÉRABLES.
The show will open at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on Wednesday December 5th, 2018 and will run until January 12th 2019.
Prior to his run in Les Mis, he played the role of ‘Charlie Price’ in Kinky Boots on Broadway, a role he originated at the Adelphi Theatre in the West End in 2015, for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award.
His other theatre credits include: ‘Jackie Day’ in Donegal, a new play by Frank McGuinness, at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin and ‘Huey’ in the original London cast of Memphis at the Shaftesbury Theatre for which he was also nominated for an Olivier Award.
He created the role of ‘Deco’ in The Commitments at the Palace Theatre and has also played ‘Tony’ in Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre as well as ’Raoul’ in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre.
He first joined the company of Les Misérables in 2008, going onto play the role of ‘Enjolras’ from 2009 to 2011.
In 2010, he played the role of ‘Courfeyrac’ in the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables at The O2 Arena and also played the role of ‘Combeferre’ in the multi-award-winning film of the show, released in 2012.
Cameron Mackintosh said, ''When I announced the first UK tour of Les Miserables for ten years, I was really delighted that Killian said to me that he would like to continue playing Jean Valjean.''
''The first Irishman to play the role since Colm Wilkinson in the original – I have no doubt bringing Killian home to Dublin will be a great occasion and I’m delighted that from advance bookings, this new tour looks set to be sold out before we open”.
Since Cameron Mackintosh first conceived this new production of “Les Misérables” to celebrate the shows 25th anniversary in 2009, it has taken the world by storm.
It also inspired the hugely successful movie version starring Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Eddie Redmayne.
Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, Boublil and Schönberg’s magnificent score of LES MISÉRABLES includes songs, “I Dreamed a Dream”, “On My Own”, “Stars”, “Bring Him Home”, “Do You Hear the People Sing?”, “One Day More”, “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables”, “Master Of The House” and many more.
