In 1982, Peter Ferago, a young director who was greatly impressed with the recording of Les Misérables, brought it to the attention of British producer Cameron Mackintosh.

Mackintosh was then the perfect candidate to bring the grand story and emotional sweep of Les Misérables to the stage. From critically acclaimed revivals of such classic musicals as My Fair Lady, Oklahoma and Oliver! to original shows like Side by Side by Sondheim, Tom Lehrer's Tomfoolery, Little Shop of Horrors, and the international hit Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Mackintosh had established a reputation as a maverick theatrical producer willing to tackle projects others thought impossible. The successes of The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon and Carousel were still in the future.

The Gang He asked poet and drama critic James Fenton to create the English translation with Boublil and Schönberg, and persuaded Trevor Nunn to direct. Nunn made the excellent proviso that he direct with John Caird (his co-director for Nicholas Nickleby, based on the novel by Charles Dickens) and that Mackintosh open the show at the Barbican Theatre under the auspices of the Royal Shakespeare Company.