Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical
Phantom of the Opera first opened in 1986 and has since been performed over 10,000 times in Her Majesty's Theatre in London's West End. The musical is based on an early 20th century novel
Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by the French author Gaston Leroux. The show is popular for its dramatic and elaborate sets, unusual plot, powerful voices and grand musical numbers. In recognition of its musical and theatrical innovations, the
show's official website states that
Phantom has been awarded 60 major theatre awards, including 7 Tony Awards.
Cover of the original novel by Gaston Leroux.
Plot Outline
In general, the story is about a shadowy and frightening phantom, who lives in the caverns beneath the Paris Opera House. His beautiful musical compositions and alluring personality capture the attention of Christine Daaé, a rising opera star, much to the horror of her fiancé, Raoul. Despite his musical talent, a lifetime of violence and rejection, due to his deformed physical appearance, has made the phantom a deeply flawed and dangerous character. The mystical overtones and strong tensions between the characters, all woven into the dramatic setting of the Victorian opera, make this a complex and emotional story.
The Phantom. Photo courtesy of Cantajuego.
The music of the
Phantom, of course, is what has created a loyal worldwide fan base and continually attracts newcomers to the show, even after 25 years of performances. The official website states that the cast album has gone platinum 2 times in the UK, 6 times in the US, 9 times in Germany and 31 times in Taiwan.
Show Times and BookingPerformances run from Monday to Saturday evenings at 7.30pm. There are also matinees on Thursdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm. The show is now booking until 27 October 2012. Tickets are bookable
online via the show's website or by calling 0844 412 2707. Tickets are also available at the theatre or London's many ticket offices.
PricesTicket prices for 2012 are as follows:
Stalls: £63.00, £50.00, £26.00
Royal Circle: £63.00, £50.00, £41.00, £26.00
Grand Circle: £41.00, £36.00, £26.00, £21.00
Balcony: £26.00, £21.00
Cheaper tickets have restricted views of the stage. Tickets that currently cost £63.00 will be increasing to £65.00 from 30 April 2012.
LocationHer Majesty's Theatre is located on Haymarket between Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus. This area is very accessible by tube or bus. The nearest tube stations are Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines) or Leicester Square (Northern and Piccadilly lines). The theatre is within walking distance of numerous restaurants, shops and cafés.
Her Majesty's Theatre. Photo courtesy of Vanessa Buchick.
