On a bright, sunny day, we convened at the front of the Palace Theatre (my old home when I played
Eponine in 'Les Miz' in 1996) and lined up to have our bags checked before entering the theater.
Paige Smallwood also impresses as
Eponine, who provides a clear and strong pop belt to the unrequited love song "On My Own."
Salonga made history as the first Asian to play
Eponine in the musical 'Les Miserables', which she returned to in 2006 as Fantine.
Earlier this week, the 37-year-old Duchess of Cambridge wore a bespoke green
Eponine dress during her visit to Lavender Primary School in Enfield, north London, as part of a string of visits to mark Children's Mental Health Week.
She's also known for originating the lead role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon, and for being the first actress of Asian descent to play the roles of
Eponine and Fantine in the musical Les Miserables on Broadway.
I wasn't completely convinced by Tegan Bannister's
Eponine at first but she won me over with her moving duet A Little Fall of Rain, which was beautifully staged.
Marius scours the city for the missing Cosette, assisted by a heartbroken
Eponine - but when he cannot find her, he is left consumed with despair and decides to join Enjolras at the forefront of the uprising.
Katie joined Beyond the Barricade after playing the lead role of
Eponine, in the West End production of Les Miserables.
The concert features David Fawcett (Valjean) Andy Reiss ( Enjolras and Resident Director for the National Tour of Beyond the Barricade Les Miserables) Katie Leeming (
Eponine) and Poppy Tierney (Cosette), together with a live band who capture the feel of the original orchestrations of the chosen musicals.
Davies says he has added sexual tension between characters Marius, played by Josh O'Connor, and young French girl
Eponine, (Erin Kellyman) to spice things up.
She played the part of
Eponine in the Urdd/Welsh Millennium Centre production of Les Miserables in 2015 and Cinderella in a New Theatre pantomime in Cardiff.
In the adaptation Akhtar and Colman will play Monsieur and Madame Thenardier, Bamber will appear as Cosette, O'Connor will star as Marius and Erin Kellyman as
Eponine.