Les Misérables - Royal Variety Performance 1987

The Royal Variety Performance in 1987 contained a medley from Les Misérables performed by members of all four then-current productions: the original London company, with Kaho Shimada (Tokyo production), Dudu Fisher (Tel Aviv production) and Michael McGuire (New York production).

Originally recorded on VHS tape, this recording has been digitally restored as best as possible, and to my knowledge is the only complete video of the performance online.

Seeing this performance on the TV in 1988 (the Royal Variety shows used to be screened the following year here in Australia) was the first time I'd ever heard anything from Les Misérables, and it totally blew me away. My then-husband and I sat there speechless and crying, and on the strength of this medley alone we booked tickets for the opening of the Melbourne production the instant they went on sale.

My current husband did the digital conversion and restoration, so in a sense it's finally come full circle.