SMC Girls Bring Heart, Hope and High Drama to Les Misérables

St Margaret’s and Christ's College students are preparing to take to the stage in Les Misérables from Tuesday 12 May to Saturday 16 May 2026.

Known for its soaring music, unforgettable characters and powerful story of courage, sacrifice and hope, Les Misérables is a production that asks a great deal of every performer and crew member involved. For our SMC girls, it has been an opportunity to step into a world that is emotionally rich, musically demanding and full of meaning.

Jess Erasmus, who plays Fantine, says audiences can expect “the complete package: laughter, tears, joy, and hard-won redemption.”

“At its heart, it is a story about real people navigating the same uncertainties we all face today,” Jess says. For her, Fantine’s most endearing trait is her resilience. “Despite the cruelty of her circumstances, she remains a symbol of resilience, maintaining an unshakeable faith that Cosette will live a good life. More importantly, her hope isn’t just a feeling; it’s a force for change.”

That sense of hope runs through the production, even in its darkest moments. Jess hopes audiences leave feeling that “hope is never truly lost” and in awe of “the resilience of the human spirit.”

For Mailinh Sanderson, the power of the show lies in the experience of seeing it live.

“Seeing this powerful show performed live, with the music swelling and the cast pouring their hearts into every note, is unforgettable,” she says. Describing the production in three words, Mailinh chose “thrilling, exhilarating, powerful.”

Mailinh’s character reveals the hardship and complexity of the world of Les Misérables. She says that in the chaos of the French Revolution, her character represents the human desire for stability and order, with her venom and malice masking a desperate survival instinct.

Georgie Campbell, who is part of the ensemble, says one of her proudest moments has been watching the SMC girls fully embrace the challenging characters and themes of the show.

“Even when reflecting challenging and sometimes mature narratives, it has been awesome to be a part of the ensemble that genuinely wants to give things a go and perform to the best of their abilities to give the story the representation it deserves,” Georgie says.

She describes the production as “mesmerising, passionate and epic” and says the ensemble brings to life the bravery and heart of people who had so much to fight for.

“The females in the show demonstrate true bravery,” she says. “Les Mis is so much more than just lead characters. It is reflective of the bravery and heart of people who had so much to fight for.”

Behind the scenes, the same dedication is being poured into every detail. Emma Currie, who is part of the crew, says audiences will love watching the casts and crew come together to create something truly special.

“Whether you have tickets for the Dream Cast, the Star Cast, or both, I hope the audience enjoys watching our casts of characters work together with us in the crew to give you a fantastic show,” Emma says.

Emma describes the production as “entertaining, tragic and detailed,” noting the enormous effort going into the small details that help immerse the audience in the story, from costumes to set design and painting.

With its extraordinary score, emotional depth and the talent of students both on stage and behind the scenes, Les Misérables promises to be a production not to miss.

Performances run from Tuesday 12 May to Saturday 16 May 2026, with evening shows at 7.00pm and a matinee performance on Saturday 16 May at 2.00pm.

Tickets are available now through Eventfinda:
https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/les-miserables/christchurch/tickets

A huge thank you to our generous sponsors Ember Technology, Mainland Capital, Savills, PAK’nSAVE and Archibalds for their support of this production.