THIS production is exactly why York Light Opera Company decided to establish York Light Youth, giving young talent a chance to be nurtured with a view to progressing to the senior ranks.

In truth, the cream of the crop will head off to drama school and may never return but others will stay and make the progression, and in the very experienced duo of director John Hall and musical director MichaelThompson they could not be better taught.

Boublil and Schonberg’s epic musical tale of broken dreams, passion and redemption, set against the 19th century backdrop of the French nation in the grip of revolution, is a particularly challenging musical for young voices, being such an intense, dramatic, some might say over-dramatic piece.

The male voices in particular must rise to that task, and Hall and Thompson give plenty of blossoming performers a chance to do so by having different casts for alternate performances.

Sam Rippon takes the role of Marius in both casts and is particularly impressive, while Scott Goncalves leads the Black Team company with passion and strength as Valjean. Harry Gibb takes on the most difficult singing part of all, Enjolras, with admirable resolve; Grant Langworthy catches the eye as Thenardier, and look out for young Sam Melvin’s Gavroche, a plucky cameo with the promise of more to come from a stage natural.

The performance that will have everyone talking is Hannah Richardson’s Eponine. What a voice, combined with just the right sense of drama. Naomi Halliday’s Fantine and Ria Williams’s Cosette stand out too.

Les Miserables School Edition, York Light Youth, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, until Saturday, 7.30pm and 2.30pm, Saturday matinee. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk