FRESH from silver screen success with hot Oscar tip Les Misérables, Cameron Mackintosh returns to theatre with a spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera.

Starring Southampton’s own Earl Carpenter as the Phantom and Katie Hall in the role of Christine, the show will arrive at The Mayflower next week.

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 protégée Christine Daaé is so strong that even her heart cannot resist.

After 25 years in the West End and a quarter of a century celebration at the Royal Albert Hall, producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh has brought together an exciting new design and staging of the musical, which retains Maria Bjornson’s amazing costumes.

He told Lorelei Reddin: “For me, what I wanted to get out of it, was an affinity with the original as that was incredibly beautiful, but a production that further explores the darker world of backstage and make it a bit grittier.

“We show the Phantom’s world and I think people will be able to understand him more.

“There’s something very visceral about the new production. It’s got a very different quality.”

Earl Carpenter, who returns to the role of the Phantom after a celebrated stint in the West End version, added: “It’s completely different, the fact I’ve played the Phantom before is a hindrance if anything. This is a real challenge.

“The whole production is on another scale, a very different piece.

The London production was more black box, this is a lot more real, the character and everything. It’s quite amazing.”

Be the first to surrender to the music of the night and fall in love with the Phantom all over again at The Mayflower.

u Previews run for a week from Tuesday and the show closes on Saturday, February 16.

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