New Phantom gets Scottish premiere

Edinburgh Playhouse to host Phantom tour in September 2012

By Thom Dibdin

John Owen-Jones and Earl Carpenter are to share the title role in a new production of The Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking musical, touring to the Edinburgh Playhouse next September.

This will be the first time that Phantom has been at the Playhouse for over a decade. The last touring production ran from September to December 1999.

The new production opens in Plymouth in March and will feature Katie Hall in the role of Christine. It arrives at the Playhouse on 19 September, running to 20 October. Owen Jones will play the Phantom for the opening two weeks, with Earl Carpenter pickling up the reigns on October 1, for the final three weeks.

Announcing the tour, producer Cameron Mackintosh said “After 25 phenomenal years and a glorious celebration of the show’s success at the Royal Albert Hall at the start of this month, I’m delighted to announce that a spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary musical will open its national tour next March in Plymouth. With an exciting new design and staging, retaining Maria Björnson’s amazing costumes, be the first to surrender to the music of the night and fall in love with the Phantom in his new guise all over again'”

This new production will directed by Laurence Connor, a regular with Mackintosh who was associate director on Phantom at Her Majesty’s Theatre from 2005-2010. He has won awards for his direction of the touring production of Miss Saigon and is currently co-director on the world tour of the new production of Les Miserables. Choreography will be by Scott Ambler with a set designed by Paul Brown.

“Far beneath the majesty and splendour of the Paris Opera House, hides the Phantom in a shadowy existence. Shamed by his physical appearance and feared by all, the love he holds for his beautiful protegee Christine Daae is so strong that even her heart cannot resist...”

Both Owen-Jones and Carpenter have played the role of the Phantom in the West End production. They both also toured in the recent 25th anniversary production of Les Miserables, Owen-Jones playing Jean Valjean and Carpenter as Javert. Carpenter played Darryl Van Horne in West End production of The Witches of Eastwick.

Katie Hall joined the cast of Phantom as cover for the role of Christine after failing to get beyond the boot camp stage in BBC1’s I’d Do Anything. She is now the alternate Christine in the production. She played the role of Cosette in the West End production of Les Miserables and on the 25th Anniversary tour and was a final round contender in Your Country Needs You, Lloyd Webber’s search for a Eurovision star.

The Phantom Of The Opera
Edinburgh Playhouse
19 September – 20 October 2012 – tickets on sale 10 February 2012
John Owen-Jones as The Phantom (19 – 29 September)
Earl Carpenter as The Phantom (1 – 20 October)
Box Office 0844 871 3014
Online ticketing: www.atgtickets.com/edinburgh

Phantom phacts:
The Phantom Of The Opera originally opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre on 9 October 1986, starring Michael Crawford as The Phantom and Sarah Brightman as Christine.
Since then it has won over 60 major theatre awards – including seven Tonys and three Olivier Awards.
The show has grossed over £3.2 billion world-wide – giving it box office revenues higher than any film of stage play in history, according to the producers.

Full tour is as follows – with further dates to be announced

www.thephantomoftheoperatour.com

27 FEBRUARY – 31 MARCH 2012
THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH
John Owen-Jones as The Phantom
Box Office 01752 230440 | www.theatreroyal.com
ON SALE 27 OCTOBER 2011

4 APRIL – 19 MAY 2012
MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE
John Owen-Jones as The Phantom
Box Office 0844 847 2295 | www.palaceandoperahouse.org.uk
ON SALE 9 NOVEMBER

22 MAY – 30 JUNE 2012
BRISTOL HIPPODROME
John Owen-Jones as The Phantom
Box Office 0844 871 3012 | www.bristolhippodrome.org.uk
ON SALE 10 NOVEMBER

4 JULY – 4 AUGUST 2012
DUBLIN GRAND CANAL THEATRE
John Owen-Jones as The Phantom
Box Office 0818 719 377 | www.grandcanaltheatre.ie
ON SALE SOON

8 AUGUST – 15 SEPTEMBER 2012
LEEDS GRAND THEATRE
John Owen-Jones as The Phantom
Box Office 0844 848 2706 | www.leedsgrandtheatre.com
ON SALE 9 FEBRUARY 2012

19 SEPTEMBER – 20 OCTOBER 2012
EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE
John Owen-Jones as The Phantom (19 – 29 September)
Earl Carpenter as The Phantom (1 – 20 October)
Box Office 0844 847 1660 | www.edinburghplayhouse.org.uk
ON SALE 10 FEBRUARY 2012

24 OCTOBER – 24 NOVEMBER 2012
MILTON KEYNES THEATRE
Earl Carpenter as The Phantom
Box Office 0844 871 7652 | www.atgtickets.com/Milton-Keynes-Theatre
ON SALE SOON

4 DECEMBER 2012 – 12 JANUARY 2013
CARDIFF WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE
Earl Carpenter as The Phantom
Box Office 02920 63 64 64 | www.wmc.org.uk
ON SALE 1 MARCH 2012

22 JANUARY – 16 FEBRUARY 2013
SOUTHAMPTON MAYFLOWER
Earl Carpenter as The Phantom
Box Office 02380 711 811 | www.mayflower.org.uk
ON SALE 30 JANUARY 2012

ENDS

Tags: Musicals, News, Phantom of the Opera, Playhouse