It must be hard to make sure a show that's been around for as long as Les Misérables is as interesting to audiences today as when it first appeared in 1980.

But for those who have waited years for its arrival in Canterbury, that's just what you've got in store.

It's a big cast full of undeniable and vast talent. Led by Dean Chisnall, who plays Jean Valjean, and Nic Greenshields as Javert, the ensemble had strong, powerful voices that gave me goosebumps on more than one occasion.

The voices of Rachaelle Ann Go as Fantine and Siobhan O'Driscoll as Eponine were particularly stunning, and Eponine's performance of On My Own brought me to tears.

Their early exits form the show were disappointing, if not in any way a surprise.

It's not the only number in the show that brought emotions to the surface, with phenomenal songs such as One Day More, I Dreamed a Dream and Do You Hear the People Sing all having their moment in the spotlight and taking my breath away.

It's a rollercoaster of a show with busy, chaotic but impressive scenes full of performers offering humour and complicated choreography that draws your eyes to different parts of the stage and elaborate set design.

These were often followed by quiet, simple and beautiful solo performances with just the actor, orchestra and a spotlight.

Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, who is behind acclaimed productions such as Cats, the Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon, this reincarnation of the show debuted in 2009 to celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary.

Since then, it has broken box office records in the UK, ran for more than 1,000 performances on Broadway and has wowed audiences overseas in locations such as France, Canada, Australia and Japan.

“I’ve always been a fan, long before I even dreamt of having a career in theatre,” says Dean, who has played the role of Jean Valjean in more than 500 performances. “I say it to everybody, this is the dream role for anybody in musical theatre.

“I just feel very lucky to do it, and to have done it for as long as I have. I pinch myself every day.”

The scenery for this production is inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, who wrote the original novel Les Misérables in 1862.

The musical, adapted by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, premiered in Paris in 1980 and has been seen by more than 120 million people worldwide, in 52 countries and in 22 languages.

Les Misérables is at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, until Saturday, October 29. Book tickets here or call 01227 787787.