It may still be several months from reaching the stage but rehearsals for Les Misérables (Schools Edition), this year's major amateur school production, performed entirely by Harrodian students, are in full swing
Whether it's School of Rock, Legally Blonde or Grease, Harrodian's music and drama department collaborations lack nothing in ambition. Every aspect of each production is carefully considered, meticulously planned and relentlessly rehearsed. And this process takes time. This year's epic, Les Misérables (Schools Edition) was conceived and cast many months ago and, while it won't reach the stage until February, rehearsals have long been in full swing.
Harrodian's new resident photographer, Yana Kozar visited a rehearsal last week and took some evocative pictures of a large band of performers hard at work with the production's Director, our Head of Drama Mr Michael Glen and piano accompanist Ms Georgina Cassidy.
We asked Mr Glen and Head of Music Kay le Doujet how the challenges of bringing departments together to stage a large-scale musical was going. Their reflections can be found below.
Kay Le Doujet: Musical Director
'We’ve been deep in a busy run of after-school rehearsals, ploughing through the songs at pace. As it is a sung-through musical so there’s a huge amount of music to cover and they're not used to this number of songs! The students have been absolutely brilliant though - full of energy, enthusiasm, and determination. It’s been fantastic to see them rise to the challenge with such focus and spirit
The students have been absolutely brilliant though - full of energy, enthusiasm, and determination. It’s been fantastic to see them rise to the challenge with such focus and spirit.
Kay Le Doujet, Musical Director
From the music side, my main aim has been to build strong, confident vocal performances that can carry the songs from start to finish. We’ve been working section by section to get melodies secure, harmonies tight, rhythms clear, and transitions flowing smoothly. Because the show never really stops for breath, stamina is a big part of the process with regular vocal warm-ups, good singing habits, and plenty of encouragement to keep voices in shape by joining at least one of the choir rehearsals each week.
Our accompanist, Ms Cassidy, shown above, has been an absolute rock throughout - tirelessly supporting rehearsals and helping our performers learn their parts and it's been demanding for everyone, but the atmosphere has been wonderful. The cast are working incredibly hard, the sound is coming together beautifully, and there’s a real sense that a truly special performance is taking shape.'
Mr Michael Glen, Director
'From the drama side, my focus has been on helping the cast connect deeply with the story and characters that make Les Misérables (Schools Edition) such a powerful piece of theatre. With so much of the narrative carried through song, we’ve been exploring how to marry strong vocal work with truthful acting choices – ensuring every lyric is underpinned by real intention and emotion. We’ve worked on building character journeys, physicality, and stagecraft, always with an emphasis on ensemble energy and commitment.
What makes this production especially exciting is how closely music and drama have to work together. In Les Misérables (Schools Edition), the score and the storytelling are inseparable, so every rehearsal is a collaboration where voice, character, movement, and emotion come together. It’s been hugely powerful and enjoyable to see the students experience this — discovering how music fuels the drama, and how dramatic truth brings the music to life.
It feels especially important to be telling this story today. Les Misérables is ultimately about resilience, justice, and hope in the face of struggle and hardship – themes that remain as relevant now as they were in Victor Hugo's time.
Michael Glen, Director
It also feels especially important to be telling this story today. Les Misérables is ultimately about resilience, justice, and hope in the face of struggle and hardship - themes that remain as relevant now as they were in Victor Hugo’s time. For young people to step into this world, to embody lives of courage, sacrifice, and solidarity, is a reminder of how powerful theatre can be in helping us reflect on our own society.'
To find out more drama news as it happens, follow @harrodiandrama on instagram
Photo credit: Yana Kozar
Les Misérables (Schools Edition) will be performed in the School Theatre on Tuesday 10th, Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th February 2026 6.30pm.