40 "MISERABLE" YEARS LATER

2025 marks a significant moment in the history of musical theatre, London’s West End and the career of one of the UK’s popular stage, film and TV actresses, Siân Reeves, known to millions for, amongst others, Cutting It, Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Mount Pleasant.

This October Les Miserables will celebrate its 40th Anniversary and for Siân this is also a time to take stock and remember how her journey into showbiz began.  She does this through her memoir, “40 ‘Miserable’ Years Later” and also in a Podcast which shares the same name and features Siân interviewing some of the key names from the early days of “Les Mis”.  These include Broadway Star Patti Lupone , Director John Caird, Executive Nick Allot,  Endeavour ‘s DCI Thursday, the much loved Roger Allam, Caroline Quentin and Kate Flatt OBE, the original Movement Director and there will be more.

It is, you see, 40 years since a young Siân, newly arrived in London, stood under the bright lights of the world famous West End and stepped out onto the stage of the then brand new musical that would ultimately change theatre history forever.

Now in a deeply personal and captivating memoir Siân takes readers on a trip through the highs and lows of a life in performance.

She discusses…

• Starting at ‘the top’ at 19 working with people of excellence which has stretched Siân in acting, singing, skills and basic good manners in theatre and performance in a way nothing else could have.
• A crushing accident at the New Vic Theatre where Siân was knocked out, possibly forever, which taught her how to manage pain and empathise with people living with it and having to endure a very tough road back to the business.
• Turning into a comedy actresswhich she would never have known was in her had it not been for the gentle expert direction of four key directors of our time, Trevor Nunn, John Caird, Adrian Noble and Gregory Doran with whom she worked early in her career.
• Meeting and working with the incomparable Mary Hammond, a singing expert, teacher and friend ,who helped Siân to reach the elusive floating top C”
• Siân says she owes almost every bit of talent and growth to the cast and creatives of LES MISERABLES “ 

From early days singing and dancing in her Midlands hometown Siân’s career, thanks in many ways to this fabulous early opportunity in Les Miserables, has led to many memorable roles in film, TV and of course her first love, the theatre.

This is an honest tale of triumphs, struggles, and behind the scenes stories of a career shaped by storytelling with humour and heart as well as an unfiltered look at the challenges of the entertainment industry.

Writing 40 years on is not simply a reflection on a remarkable career – it is a love letter to the theatre, the people who make it and the enduring power of dreams.