Les Miserables - a familiar favourite for London theatre fans
Anyone who has never seen Les Miserables and feels they know little about it may find that they recognise more than they think if they purchase theatre tickets to see it in the West End.
The musical, one of the capital's longest-running and well-loved shows, is famed for its excellent score and moving storyline.
In fact, those familiar with Susan Boyle are sure to know I Dreamed A Dream, one of the most famous songs in Les Miserables, while the beautiful On My Own is also played frequently by the British media.
Les Miserables first opened in London in 1985 and transferred to the Queen's Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue in 2004, a venue where it has remained ever since.
Its popularity with the public has never faded - indeed, it was voted the nation's Number One Essential Musical in 2005 by BBC Radio 2 listeners, beating off stiff competition to claim 40 per cent of the votes.
A poll carried out by Churchill Insurance in August 2009 discovered that Les Miserables was the third favourite musical among respondents, beating Grease, The Rocky Horror Show, Chicago, West Side Story, Oliver!, Joseph and Cats.
Critics are also continually complimentary about Les Miserables. One, Karen Price of the Western Mail, called it "simply marvellous" and said she thinks the song Master of the House is the highlight of the production.
"While Les Miserables isn't the most cheery of shows, it is certainly uplifting and humour is injected by the innkeeper Thenardier and his wife," she added..
Meanwhile, Terry Gee of the Pink Paper revealed he has been to see Les Miserables nine times, calling it "the world's greatest musical".
"Everyone should see Les Miserables. It has emotion, depth and real feeling that transports you back to 19th century France. You care about the characters, you feel elated from the music and you walk out of the theatre wishing you could see it all again," he enthused.
Based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo, Les Miserables is a complex story that follows the lives of a number of characters in 19th century France, most notably Jean Valjean, a prisoner in a French prison.
He is put on parole after 19 years, but steals again and breaks the agreement. However, he evades capture and policeman Javert then spends much of his career trying to track him down.
Meanwhile, destitute Fantine is thrown out of the workhouse and into prostitution and her estranged illegitimate daughter Cosette is being raised by the unscrupulous Thenardiers.
Clearly, despite its historical setting, Les Miserables has much to offer those who enjoy modern dramas and soap operas as well as a night at the theatre.