Brighton star Lizzie Bea joins the West End cast of Les Misérables

There are some shows that feel bigger than theatre. They become landmarks. Cultural moments. Stories that live far beyond the stage. Les Misérables is one of them.

So when Brighton-based West End performer Lizzie Bea told me she was joining the legendary musical as Madame Thénardier, I knew I had to catch up with her. On a very British rainy day, we met outside Theatre Royal Brighton for a chat about life on stage, finding balance, and why musical theatre continues to hold such a special place in LGBTQ hearts.

Lizzie arrives exactly how you might hope a West End star would: warm, friendly, and refreshingly down to earth. No diva energy here - just someone genuinely excited about doing the job she loves. And right now, that job happens to be one of the most iconic shows in theatre history.

Click here to watch our full, exclusive interview with Lizzie Bea:

A Dream That Happened Fast

“I’ve been doing Les Misérables in the West End for about three weeks now,” Lizzie tells me, smiling with a mixture of excitement and disbelief. Even now, it still hasn’t quite sunk in.

“It happened really quickly,” she explains. “I found out I had the audition at the beginning of November and then I started rehearsals in January. So I didn’t really have time to process it.”

For many performers, Les Misérables is the ultimate bucket list show. For Lizzie, that’s exactly what it was.

“It’s absolutely my bucket list show,” she says. “Every day I walk up to the theatre and think, ‘Oh my God, this is amazing.’”

And she isn’t exaggerating. The show has been a fixture of London theatre for decades, attracting audiences from around the world and holding a special place in the hearts of musical lovers everywhere - including a huge LGBTQ following.

But stepping into the role of Madame Thénardier wasn’t something Lizzie expected to happen so soon.

“I always thought it might be something I’d do in like 20 years,” she laughs. “Normally the role is played by someone older. So to be doing it now is kind of surreal.”

From Teen Roles to Powerhouse Characters

If you’ve followed Lizzie’s career, you’ll know she’s no stranger to major productions.

Her theatre credits include beloved musicals like Kinky Boots, Hairspray, Heathers, and Sister Act - shows that have become firm favourites among LGBTQ audiences.

Looking back at the journey, Lizzie still feels a little amazed by it all.

“When I think back to the beginning of my career, I could only have dreamed of doing the shows I’ve done”, she says. “I feel really, really lucky.”

One of the most interesting parts of joining Les Misérables is how different the role is from what she’s played before.

“Up until a couple of years ago I was playing teenagers”, she explains. “Now I’m playing a fully grown woman with kids.”

That shift represents something many performers eventually experience - moving into a new stage of their careers.

“You kind of age up through the industry”, she says. “So I’m hoping this opens up a whole new casting bracket for me.”

If her energy and talent are anything to go by, it definitely will.

Why Musical Theatre Speaks to the LGBTQ Community

At Scene Magazine, we always love talking about the connection between theatre and the LGBTQ community - and Lizzie has a pretty thoughtful take on why musicals resonate so strongly with queer audiences.

“I think theatre is a place where lots of different stories are being told”, she says. “And many shows carry messages about being who you want to be and living your authentic self.”

That idea of authenticity is something the LGBTQ community deeply connects with.

“Those stories really matter” Lizzie adds. “And I think they probably resonate with people who have had to find their own voice or identity.”

It’s easy to see why shows like Kinky Boots or Hairspray have become such beloved parts of queer culture. They’re colourful, emotional, joyful, and often unapologetically themselves.

But even Les Misérables, with its darker themes, carries a powerful message about compassion, justice, and humanity. And audiences feel it.

Keeping Her Feet on the Ground

For someone performing in one of the West End’s biggest productions, Lizzie is remarkably grounded.

Part of that, she says, comes from living in Brighton.

“It really helps having that separation between work and home”, she tells me. “London is where the job is, but Brighton is where life happens.”

She shares that life with her fiancé - who also happens to be an actor.

The two met while performing in Kinky Boots, and have now been together for nearly eight years.

“We’re very settled,” Lizzie says. “And I think that helps keep everything balanced.”

That sense of perspective is something many performers struggle to maintain in an industry that can often feel intense and unpredictable.

But Lizzie approaches it in a refreshingly practical way.

“I love doing musicals, but it is my job,” she says. “You can’t go into work every day thinking ‘Oh my God!’ the whole time. People don’t go into offices thinking that either.”

It’s a surprisingly relatable way to look at life in the West End.
“Yes, it’s exciting,” she says. “But it’s also hard work.”

What Comes Next?

With such a strong run of roles already behind her, the obvious question is: what’s next? Lizzie laughs when I ask where she sees herself in five years.

“There are so many shows I’d love to do,” she says. “Honestly, if there’s a show that wants me - I’ll do it.”

But she also hopes the theatre industry continues evolving.
“I think it’s important that the industry keeps opening up,” she says. “Allowing different kinds of people to play different kinds of roles.”

It’s a sentiment many audiences will agree with. Theatre is at its best when it reflects the world around it - diverse, colourful, and full of different voices. And performers like Lizzie Bea are exactly the kind of talent helping move it forward.

A Star Who Still Feels Like a Neighbour

One of the things that struck me most during our chat wasn’t just Lizzie’s impressive career - it was how approachable she is.

Despite performing in one of the biggest shows in London, she still feels like someone you might run into in a Brighton café. Friendly. Humble. Genuinely passionate about theatre. And maybe that’s exactly why audiences love performers like her.

As we wrap up our conversation outside Theatre Royal Brighton, the rain is still falling, the city still buzzing - and Lizzie is already thinking about heading back to the West End. To the barricades. To the music. To one of the greatest shows ever written. And if you happen to find yourself in London soon, you might just see a Brighton star lighting up the stage. Trust me - it’s worth it.