Beyond the Barricade

The UK’s critically-acclaimed show Beyond the Barricade, a glittering concert of musical showstoppers, will make its debut in Australia this year, touring to 24 cities from 1st June.

Starring past principal performers from Les Misérables in the West End and on UK tour, this blockbusting two-hour show features favourite songs from the world’s greatest West End and Broadway musicals including the latest sensation Hamilton, The Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Evita, Wicked, Miss Saigon, Mamma Mia, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Lion King and of course Les Misérables, to name just a few.

Beyond the Barricade has been delighting audiences throughout the UK and Europe for 19 years, from London’s Royal Albert Hall to the Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria Cunard cruise liners. The show made its debut in Asia in 2015, performing sold-out concerts in Manila, Singapore and Hong Kong, followed by a 21-venue tour of New Zealand in 2016. Due to popular demand Beyond the Barricade returns to New Zealand this year, before touring Australia.

The former cast members of London’s longest-running musical, Les Misérables, include Andy Reiss, who has played numerous male roles including Jean Valjean and Enjolras; David Fawcett, who played Valjean; Katie Leeming who played the role of Eponine; and Poppy Tierney, who played Cosette.

The four performers are accompanied by an ensemble of talented musicians to create an authentic live experience, capturing all the passions and orchestrations of the original shows. Andy Reiss and David Fawcett met while performing in Les Misérables in the West End and then in Manchester, and in 1996 devised a charity concert comprised of musical hits. Over the next few years the show began to take on a life of its own and in 1999 was renamed Beyond the Barricade with the move to only cast Les Misérables principals. A major UK tour followed culminating in a Gala Performance at the Royal Albert Hall accompanied by a 100-voice choir of people who had worked with Andy on the numerous Les Misérables Masterclasses he had directed. Ten years later Beyond the Barricade celebrated its first decade of touring with a Gala Concert at the Birmingham Symphony Hall.

“Our aim was, and continues to be, to deliver these much-loved songs from the top musicals in a way that captures the feel of the original orchestrations, so the audience feels they are listening to the original performance,” explains co-founder Andy Reiss. “We don’t use backing tracks, so every musical note is played and sung live, giving a dynamic feel to the show.”