Love Never Dies previews commence today, Sydney

Love Never Dies Ben Lewis and Trent Heath
Ben Lewis as The Phantom and Trent Heath as Gustave

The Sydney season of Love Never Dies is set to begin this afternoon with the show’s first preview commencing at 3pm.

The Capitol Theatre has become the new home of the Phantom and his Coney Island freak show, and the production is scheduled to play until April 1 in this majestic, heritage listed venue.

Starring Ben Lewis as the Phantom and Anna O’Byrne as Christine this lauded production enjoyed 8 months at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre, but Sydney audiences can now revel in the world of the Phantom – which is both beautiful and grotesque in equal parts.

With Helpmann Award winning set and costume designs by Gabriella Tylesova, anyone who witnesses this production will at once understand why director Simon Phillips (Priscilla, Songs For Nobodies) deems Tylesova “pathologically incapable of drawing a straight line”. Magnificent sweeping curves of a roller coaster frame the stage in what is arguably the most beautiful set Australia has ever seen.

Stars of the Australian stage Sharon Millerchip, Simon Gleeson and Maria Mercedes reprise their roles of Meg Giry, Raoul and Madame Giry to complete the principal cast.

Love Never Dies Dressing Room 2 Scene Ben Lewis Anna O'Byrne
Anna O'Byrne as Christine and Ben Lewis as Phantom

Much the same as in the Melbourne production, five young boys will share the role of Gustave, Christine’s son.

As the cast prepare for their opening performances, it is understood that the final touches are currently being placed on the soon-to-be released DVD of the show, which will see the original Australian cast’s performances immortalised on film. The show was filmed last year at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre for international DVD, Blu-Ray and Cinema release in February 2012.

Love Never Dies will officially open on Thursday 12 January and play an 8 show week (Tuesday – Sunday).

Erin James

Erin James is AussieTheatre.com's former Editor in Chief and a performer on both stage and screen. Credits include My Fair Lady, South Pacific and The King and I (Opera Australia), Love Never Dies and Cats (Really Useful Group), Blood Brothers (Enda Markey Presents), A Place To Call Home (Foxtel/Channel 7) and the feature film The Little Death (written and directed by Josh Lawson).

Erin James

2 thoughts on “Love Never Dies previews commence today, Sydney

  • this is zelala from donburn p.s ( in your class )  are you in love never dies? you never said that! P.S my brother ( halun ) told me about it! (:

    Reply
  • I thought a different boy played Gustave…something Lyall

    Reply

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