Complete casting announced for West End’s run of The Phantom of the Opera
The full cast ensemble for the ongoing West End production of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ has been officially disclosed.
Joining the troupe will be Lily Kerhoas, known for her role in ‘Les Misérables’, who will portray Christine Daaé. Joe Griffiths-Brown, a ‘Hamilton’ alumnus, steps in as Raoul, while David Kristopher-Brown from ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ assumes the role of Ubaldo Piangi, and Maiya Hikasa, known for ‘Billy Elliot’, plays Meg Giry.
Continuing in their respective roles are Jon Robyns as The Phantom, Kelly Glyptis as Carlotta Giudicelli, Adam Linstead as Monsieur André, Matt Harrop as Monsieur Firmin, and Francesca Ellis as Madame Giry. Paige Blankson will feature as Christine Daaé in select performances.
The rest of the cast includes Hollie Aires, Federica Basile, Corina Clark, Michael Colbourne, Leonard Cook, Colleen Rose Curran, Lily De-La-Haye, Hywel Dowsell, Connor Ewing, Serina Faull, Florence Fowler, James Gant, Melanie Gowie, Eilish Harmon-Beglan, Yukina Hasebe, Samuel Haughton, Thomas Holdsworth, Jacob Hughes, Grace Hume, Tim Morgan, Eve Shanu-Wilson, Tim Southgate, Zoë Soleil Vallée, Jasmine Wallis, Victoria Ward, Ralph Watts, Simon Whitaker, and Andrew York.
The new cast members will make their debut from 31 July, with the production presently accepting bookings until March 2024.
The Phantom of the Opera is a novel by Gaston Leroux that was later adapted into a renowned musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Set in the Paris Opera House in the late 19th century, the story focuses on a disfigured musical genius known as the Phantom, or Erik, who haunts the catacombs beneath the opera house.
The Phantom becomes infatuated with a beautiful soprano, Christine Daaé, whom he secretly tutors in music, enabling her rise to stardom within the opera company. Christine initially believes the Phantom to be the ‘Angel of Music’, a figure her deceased father promised to send to watch over her. However, when Christine’s childhood friend, Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny, declares his love for her, she reciprocates, inciting the Phantom’s jealousy.
As the Phantom’s obsession grows, he terrorizes the opera house with increasingly dangerous tantrums and goes to great lengths to ensure that Christine continues to sing the lead roles. His desperate and destructive love for Christine leads to a dramatic climax involving all three characters.
The musical adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera has become one of the most successful in history, renowned for its memorable score, including songs like ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, ‘The Music of the Night’, and ‘All I Ask of You’.
The show’s production design is the work of Maria Björnson, complemented by Matt Kinley’s adapted set design and Jill Parker’s associate costume design. The lighting design is crafted by Andrew Bridge, assisted by Warren Letton, and sound design is handled by Mick Potter. The original choreography by Gillian Lynne has been recreated and adapted by Chrissie Cartwright.
