George Stagnell makes directorial debut at helm of Pick Me Up Theatre's Les Miserables in York

Artistic director Robert Readman has entrusted Boublil and Schonberg's Youth Production version to Stagnell after working with him on several shows. “George is a highly talented young man and I have every confidence he'll turn our Les Mis into something very special indeed. Watch this space,” he said, when appointing Stagnell, who incidentally starred in Off The Rock Productions' four-night run of The Damask Room at Krumbs Kitchen only last week.

George, in turn, says: "The scale of the show presented itself as probably the biggest theatre challenge I've faced to date, so the opportunity to really push myself with Les Mis was very appealing." Les Miserables often tops polls to find "the nation's favourite musical" and is now in its 31st year in London after opening at the Barbican in 1985, ironically largely to a panning by Fleet Street's critics despite such songs as I Dreamed A Dream, Bring Him Home, Do You Hear The People Sing and On My Own.

Based on Victor Hugo's French novel, it tells the story of ex-convict Jean Valjean and his flight from relentless police inspector Javert after he breaks parole. When Valjean promises to care for factory worker Fantine’s young daughter, Cosette, he starts out on a dramatic journey of redemption against the backdrop of the Paris Uprising of 1832.

Students and Gavroche at the ABC Cafe in Pick Me Up Theatre's Les Miserables

“I’m so excited about this production and can’t wait to get my teeth into it,” said George at the time of his appointment, and he has since relished working with a cast, all aged under 20, led by Sam Hird as Jean Valjean and Holly Surtees-Smith as Cosette and Maren Fagerås Nævdal as Fantine.

"There are positives and negatives to having a young director with a young cast," says George, who turned 21 in January. "I'm obviously not a director with a wealth of experience, so there was the worry when I first took this on that people wouldn't trust me. However, a lot of the cast members are my friends, so they know me very well and I find we work very well together and I'm always open to inputs from them if I'm struggling for ideas. I think it makes it a very communal production."

The cast also features the likes of Scott Goncalves as Marius, Hannah Richardson as Eponine, Conor Mellor as Javert, Frankie Bounds as Gavroche and Sam Baxter as Thenardier.

"There was the worry that being a friend of some of them would be a downside as they may not be used to having me direct them, but the entire cast has been a pleasure to work with, and although we have a lot of laughs and fun in rehearsals, they respect me when I tell them it's time to crack on. For that I'm very thankful to them," says George, who is accompanied in the production team by the experienced trio of musical director Adam Tomlinson, assistant musical director Barbara Chan and producer Robert Readman.

George has made his mark on the York stage since his teens, often in the leading role in musicals, but this production is his first involvement with Les Miserables. "I've only seen Les Mis once professionally and I've never taken part in it before, so I'm hoping this will help me to bring something a little more original to the stage," he says. "I wanted to keep some of the authentic elements of Les Mis which audiences know and love so well at the same time as bringing my own ideas and imagination to the piece."

The Youth Production version has distinguishing features that George must address. "The main difference is the length; there are quite a few cuts from the original that make the piece shorter and more condensed, which has its pros and cons," he says. "You lose some fabulous music pieces but it also means the action is closer together, so it can make it more exciting and fast paced."

Important to any production of Les Miserables is the set design, and in particular the barricade. "We're keeping the period setting because I think it's very important to not try and change something for the sake of it," says George. "With Les Mis being specifically set at the time of the uprising in June 1832 – not the French Revolution – then it's important to remain true to that, in my opinion.

Pick Me Up Theatre's hair and make-up team for Les Miserables: Frankie Groves, left, Briony Wilson and Gabrielle Barrett-Kaya

"Set-wise, I've had many discussions with Robert Readman, though I haven't seen the final product yet. I do know that the sides of our set will come out and form the barricade in three parts, and also they'll be used individually at other times to try to give different scenes a bit more depth and something that the actors can really work with. All will be finalised this weekend during our tech rehearsal."

As opening night approaches, what has George most enjoyed about directing this show? "I've loved working with an incredibly talented bunch of young performers who are willing to work with you and your ideas to bring them to life on stage," he says.

"Then, when you see a scene look fantastic, you think, 'wow, I actually did that!'. As a director, I've learnt just how much more is involved and although I always knew that directors, the tech crew and band, and production team, have a lot of work to do as well, I think taking this project on has really opened my eyes further to exactly what goes on behind the scenes and how much work these guys really do. It's been great to have them all on board supporting and helping me."

Pick Me Up Theatre present Les Miserables, Youth Production, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, Wednesday to Saturday, then February 24 to 27, 7.30pm nightly plus 2.30pm Saturday matinees. Box office: 01904 623568 or pickmeuptheatre.com