Watching on is director Gayle Cameron as her Les Misérables cast of 44 and the orchestra of 17 run through the two-and-a-half hour sung-through musical production they have been working on since April.

Opening night is November 2 and final preparations are in full swing.

It’s two years since Gayle started planning to stage the iconic musical, 23 years after it was first performed in Taree.

She was among that original cast, while Don at the time was making his musical direction debut for Taree Arts Council.

She’s “absolutely thrilled” with the progress of this production.

“The cast is ready for an audience and using effects like lighting and sound and microphones and the magic that the Manning Entertainment Centre can offer to bring this sweeping saga to fruition.

“We have an extremely strong cast with a mixture of new and seasoned performers. The leads have worked very hard on their characters and are at a professional standard.”

The talent and skill among the performers comes from across the Mid North Coast, with cast members from the Manning Valley, Hastings and Great Lakes regions.

In the gruelling role of the main protagonist Jean Valjean is Tim Gibbs.

He is joined by Rod Illidge as Javert, Ian Castle as Enjolras, Alex Blenkin as Marius, Dave Stephens as Thénardier, Mary Camphuis as Fantine, Stacey Evans as Éponine, Caitlyn Cameron as Cosette and Patricia Williams as Madame Thénardier.

Six children are making their Taree Arts Council debut in Les Misérables, some in their first roles in musical theatre.

Alexander Ford-Chilvers and Sam Stephens share the role of Gavroche, Amara Crutcher and Isabella Howard the role of Little Cosette and Katelyn Davidson and Chloe Hicks the role of Young Eponine.

“It’s been wonderful to work with the children,” said Gayle.

“They’ve developed their characters really quickly and it’s something that’s completely out of their knowledge and range of experience, looking at life in the 19th century and issues of child abuse and homelessness”.

The ensemble members are Chris Alcock, Jason Allan, Lauren Baker, Blake Ballard, Holly Ballard, Kristy Bates, Coby Borg, Adele Brotherton, Ben Copland, Joanna Drake, Paul Eade, Grace Forrester, Lauren Green, Allan Hughston, Jack Kelly, Will Knight, Wayne Lambert, Brody Mason, Bridget Mason-Tisdell, Krystle Molloy-Louis, Grace Pfab, Di Rayson, Phil Rayson, Dean Snook, Brandon Stewart, Chloe Taylor, Alex Wilson, Bruce Wiseman and Tanaya Wrigley.

Six of the cast members from 1995 (Patricia Williams, Dean Snook, Holly Ballard, Lauren Baker, Bruce Wiseman and Wayne Lambert) are returning as cast members for this production.

Gayle has been with the cast every step of the way at every rehearsal but while her title is director, her role encompasses much more than just directing.

“I’ve got a great team but I’ve got to oversee each production team leader and that includes costume, set, props, makeup, hair, sound and lighting.”

Kylie Cleaver has the double role of production manager and stage manager, Kate Cheney is the assistant stage manager, Chris Tippett the technical director, John Holme the set designer, David Denning heads set construction, Lea Young is costume co-ordinator, Amanda Hammond is the choreographer, Sammy Clarke is properties manager, Paul Eade heads hair and wigs, Karla Agnew make-up, Bruce Wiseman publicity and promotions and Ariana Shneider is the assistant vocal director.

Overall there is about 120 people volunteering their time to bring Les Miserables to the stage.

One person who has had a big role in the rehearsal process is pianist Pam Archer who played accompaniment for every song at every rehearsal from April until the show moved into the theatre in the middle of October.

Gayle is delighted to have a full orchestra who will play during each performance.

“It’s wonderful. Don’s been working very hard with them”.

Rehearsals have been held between the orchestra and cast over the past few months and on October 14 they held a sitzprobe, where the orchestra plays the whole show through while the cast stands and sings.

For Don, the music and the show hold a special place in his heart.

“When I come back and listen to it again, the fact that it can still move me and I’m still crying in certain places, it’s often the music itself.

“There’s something with the melodies and harmonies and moments that break into my heart and bring out the emotion to me.

“It’s cleverly constructed. It lets the mood change with the lighter numbers and more comic characters and nasty characters and all the different lead people have clearly developed characters.”

The big cast arrived at the first rehearsal with a varying levels of vocal and acting training and experience and he said by the end they will all be able to call themselves musicians.

“One of the challenges for any amateur company doing the show is trying to draw the best and way more out of people than what they thought they had in themselves.

“You have to eventually get to a point where everyone is on the same level and giving the same depth of thought.

“It’s a big challenge during a show to sort of nail it in terms of being in a scene in a character.”

Les Misérables is a world-wide phenomenon that’s been seen by 70 million people and translated into 22 languages.

“It’s the world’s most beloved musical,” said Gayle.

“It runs the gamut of emotions, there’s a lot of humour and people will enjoy the antics of the Thénardiers. 

“There’s also tragedy but it’s uplifting. It’s a story of hope, redemption and the resilience of the human spirit.”

Les Misérables is on at Taree’s Manning Entertainment Centre from November 2 to 18. Tickets are available from www.themec.com.au, by phoning 6592 5466 or at the customer service desk at Stockland Forster.