The Phantom of the Opera has been forced to close down due to the coronavirus pandemic. The iconic show is the second longest-running musical in the West End, after Les Misérables. 

Determined to return

On 28 July 2020, Producer Cameron Mackintosh stated that Phantom has been “permanently shut down”, but that he is “determined” for it to return to London in the future. 

However, a spokesperson later confirmed that “a brand new physical production” will return at some point, in a refurbished theatre.

A memorable experience

It was during lockdown that I watched The Phantom of the Opera for the first time. A selection of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals were streamed on YouTube as part of The Shows Must Go On series. I knew little about Phantom, but once the broadcast started and the spine-tingling overture played, I instantly became a fan. Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess and Hadley Fraser all shone in their respective roles of the Phantom, Christine and Raoul.

This was an amazing viewing experience made even more memorable because it was the 25th anniversary special, filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in 2011. 

Online theatre streaming 

The Shows Must Go On YouTube channel was launched by Andrew Lloyd Webber in response to the closure of theatres. The streams are free to watch and the channel encourages viewers to donate to charities and support those in need in the theatre industry.

Uncertain future for theatres

Whilst this initiative has been a silver lining in turbulent times, the future remains uncertain for theatres. After watching Phantom on screen, I had hoped to also see this production live in the theatre one day. It’s not yet clear though when the shows will indeed go on again. 

A statement from the London production reads: “In summary, we can’t tell you exactly when the Phantom will be back but we can tell you that he will be back”. Fingers crossed The Phantom and West End landscape flourish again in the not-too-distant future.

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Written by Shahrzad Saeedi