martha kirby to play fantine in les miserables at sondheim theatre

Martha Kirby to Play Fantine in Les Misérables at Sondheim Theatre

ByCarla Oliver

Les Misérables will see Martha Kirby take over the role of Fantine at the Sondheim Theatre next month, as the production continues its run following a recent WhatsOnStage Award for Best West End Show.

Martha Kirby will join the cast of Les Misérables in the role of Fantine from 13 April, taking over from Lucie Jones who plays the character until 11 April 2026. The production is staged at the Sondheim Theatre, where a number of fresh cast members have recently joined.

Alongside Kirby, Harry Hepple now performs as Thénardier, Lizzie Bea as Madame Thénardier, and Jess Folley, a WhatsOnStage Award nominee, plays Éponine. Ian McIntosh stars as Jean Valjean, with Sam Oladeinde as Javert, Thiago Phillip Felizardo as Marius, Joe Griffiths-Brown as Enjolras, and Izzi Levine as Cosette.

The ensemble is completed by a broad company including Hollie Aires, Aidan Banyard, Ella May Carter, Nicholas Carter, and many others, supporting one of the West End’s longest-running musicals.

Les Misérables, written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, is adapted from Victor Hugo’s novel. The West End production features orchestrations by Stephen Metcalfe, Christopher Jahnke, and Stephen Brooker, with original orchestrations by John Cameron.

The show is directed by James Powell and Laurence Connor, with design by Matt Kinley, whose work is inspired by Hugo’s paintings. Costume design is credited to Andreane Neofitou, Christine Rowland, and Paul Wills, with lighting by Paule Constable and sound by Mick Potter. Projection work is realised by Finn Ross and Fifty Nine Productions.

Musical staging is overseen by Geoffrey Garratt, with music supervision by Stephen Brooker and Alfonso Casado Trigo. The score includes music by Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, and original French text by Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel. Additional material was contributed by James Fenton, with adaptation by Trevor Nunn and John Caird.

Following its recent WhatsOnStage Award win, the production has extended its run to March 2027, with tickets currently on sale.

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Carla Oliver

Clara is a London-based theatre writer who creates clear, practical West End guides. She helps readers compare shows, understand seating and timings, and save money on tickets. On MusicalsAndTickets, she focuses on family-friendly hits and long-running favourites, offering straightforward, research-based advice for booking with confidence.

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