Spotlight on Youth Cast in Upstage Theatre Company’s Les Misérables
Upstage Theatre Company, based in South-East Melbourne, is turning the spotlight on a talented new generation of performers in its 2026 production of Les Misérables. Seven remarkable young actors have been selected from an exceptional field of local talent to take on the beloved child roles of Gavroche, Young Éponine, and Young Cosette — bringing youthful energy and extraordinary skill to the stage.
The young cast members pictured right to left in the cast photo are Reuben Koronczyk as Gavroche, Maggie Lord as Little Cosette, Noah Glaubert in the Children’s Ensemble and Alexis Hili as Little Éponine
Additional young performers include Daphne Tchantcho, sharing the role of Little Cosette (her father currently stars in the professional production of The Book of Mormon), and siblings Oscar and Helyna Cirroco, who join the Children’s Ensemble. Their father, Anthony Cirroco, appears in Les Misérables as the Bishop of Digne. Also performing in the production is Adrian Glaubert, Noah’s father, who takes on the role of Javert, and Artistic Director Scott J Hili’s niece as little Eponine make this a truly family affair onstage.
Guiding the youth cast is Tony Award–winning director Cody Riker, whose mentorship has already sparked excitement in the local arts community.
“These young artists inspire me,” Riker shares. “I hope to nurture their confidence, their craft, and maybe even ignite lifelong careers in the theatre.”
Joining Riker is Upstage Theatre Company’s Artistic Director and award-winning designer Scott J. Hili, a passionate advocate for youth arts engagement across the Cardinia region.
“Sport often takes the spotlight in our community,” Hili says. “Our goal is to give young people the platform they deserve — helping them develop their creativity, confidence, and craft both onstage and off.”
Together, Riker and Hili and the rest of the production team, are cultivating the next generation of local talent, providing professional-level guidance and fostering a creative environment where enthusiasm meets excellence.
These rising stars — the heart of Les Misérables — reflect Upstage Theatre Company’s continuing mission: to nurture young talent, embrace diverse casting in a safe space and shape the cultural future of the South-East through powerful storytelling, mentorship, and music that moves generations.
April 10 – 19, 2026
Tony Sheumack Centre for Performing Arts, Beaconhills College Berwick Campus
Click here to read our feature about Community Theatre seasons across Australia in 2026.
Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.
