Moral Philosophy: The Musical passes an unexpected milestone

When it opened some critics hated it. An all-singing version of Victor Hugo's sprawling, multi-plotted novel set in post-Napoleonic France which combines themes of social commentary, moral philosophy and the nature of love. How daft was that?

This weekend Les Misérables will prove the doubters wrong and set a benchmark when it becomes the world's longest-running musical. Apart from the 21 years it has been running in London, a further 56 professional companies have opened it in 38 countries and 223 cities. With more than 38,000 professional performances worldwide, an astonishing - and estimated - 54 million people have seen it.

And it shows no sign of flagging. A completely reorchestrated version is to reopen on Broadway, three years after it closed, and the show's producer, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, will use it to spearhead a drive into China.

"It's all down to Victor Hugo," said Mackintosh, in New York overseeing the new version. "Every single character is so well delineated, we all know these people and all human life is here. Hugo wanted it to be just set in Paris but relevant the world over and it is, because human nature is the same."

On a cold Wednesday this week the usual West End mix of tourists, visitors from out of town and diehard theatre-goers almost filled the Queen's theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, where Les Mis is now playing.

The audience loved it and gave it the same warm reception you suspect it gets everywhere. It has been running so long that it feels almost everyone has seen it, but it is obviously attracting new generations, with about half the audience under 30. "This show has turned kids on to theatre more than any other show I can think of," said Mackintosh. "There are so many school productions of it where they are doing it in their own way. It really has turned a whole generation of kids on to theatre."

A big part of the show's success has been the songs, many of which need to be belted out. One Day More was used by Bill Clinton during his 1992 presidential campaign. Do You Hear The People Sing was played over the TV coverage from the student protest at Tiananmen Square. Bring Him Home was used in promotional material about US troops in the Gulf war. Master of the House is one of the catchiest comedy songs of any musical.

Its popularity was reflected in a poll last year when nearly half of all those voting in a Radio 2 survey to find Britain's favourite musical voted for Les Misérables.

Musical theatre is more popular than ever and potentially a big-money, worldwide exercise. In the West End there are more musicals running than at any other time in living memory, frustrating many producers who would like to find venues for straight drama. Last week Wicked, owned by Universal Pictures, opened. Next week it is Cabaret, the following week Caroline, or Change, the following week Dirty Dancing (already holding the record for biggest advance ticket sales).

"There's no doubt there are more musicals on this year than I can remember. Some will run and some will not. It will sort itself out," said Mackintosh.

The worldwide success of Les Misérables has persuaded Mackintosh to use it for one of his most ambitious projects - China.

David Lightbody is managing the project to develop musical theatre in China. "The idea is to create Chinese-language versions of major Western musicals, but more than that it is about trying to develop a musical theatre industry in China - the actors, the musicians, the technical crew, the writers."

Les Misérables, Cats, Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King have all gone down well but in relatively quick bursts and in English. "What I was most amazed by recently in The Lion King was a couple of brief moments translated into Mandarin by the performers, and that was when the audience physically responded, they were moving forward and sitting up in their seats."

Lightbody, who will move to China and is (slowly) learning Mandarin, added: "There is a really strong appetite for musical theatre and we believe that is an appetite which can sustain and enjoy long-running shows."

"There is a bit of a perception that the idea of having a Chinese version is all very well and good but the singing will not be as good. That's a misconception, because the quality of performers we are seeing is almost second to none. I think when we open [in 2008] it will blow people away."

The long-term aim is to get a "great Chinese musical with a Chinese approach" back for, it is hoped, long runs in the west. "God knows how long it will take," he admitted.

Tomorrow night, the eve of the anniversary, promises to be quite a night, if potentially a little bizarre. A specially devised finale is promised at which the current record holder will hand the crown to Les Mis.

Given that the current long-runner is Cats - based on poems by TS Eliot, and another musical some said would not work - there's the enticing prospect of singers dressed as cats mingling with militant Parisians.

How long a show which began as a four hour musical by the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican can keep on running is anyone's guess. "If you had told me 10 years ago that it would even go on for a couple of more years I wouldn't have believed it but people just seem to love coming back," said Mackintosh.

Les Mis in a minute

Gin and tonic. Man in prison for 19 years for stealing bread gets parole. Bloke in charge marks his card. Man steals from kind bishop. Bishop takes pity. Man's life is changed. Ten years on. Man is mayor and factory owner. Factory lady exposed as having illegitimate child. Lady sacked and becomes prostitute. Lady dies. Man's life is changed. Man buys lady's daughter from comedy bar owners. 10 years on. Boy falls in love with daughter. Revolution in air. Girl dressed as boy brings letter from first boy professing undying love for daughter. Man reads it. Man's life is changed. Interval. Revolution. Many die. Boy marries daughter. Man leaves. Comedy bar owners return. Make boy realise man saved his life. Man led to heaven by factory lady and girl who was dressed as boy. Finale.