The Phantom of the Opera at the Her Majesty's Theatre

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Masterpiece Now in its 26th Year

Based on the 1909 novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux, The Phantom of the Opera is billed as London’s Greatest Love Story, telling the epic tale of the beautiful Swedish singer Christine Daaé who becomes the obsession of the mysterious, deformed musical genius known as 'The Phantom'.

The novel’s first musical adaptation was by Ken Hill in 1976, with a moderately successful production that played a number of provincial theatres in Britain and toured the USA, but didn’t reach the West End until 1991, when it was overshadowed by this, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterpiece.

Opening at Her Majesty’s Theatre in 1986 to unanimously enthusiastic reviews and a fantastic public reception, The Phantom of the Opera was an instant phenomenon. The original London cast recording (featuring Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman) was the first in musical history to enter the UK charts at number one and remains to this day the biggest selling musical cast recording of all time.

The show’s success in London, on Broadway and in over 25 countries around the world has made it the highest grossing entertainment event of all time, having been seen by over 130 million people with worldwide box office takings in excess of $5.6 billion.

The success of the Phantom does not look set to stop anytime soon, as its dramatic storyline and famous score continues to draw in the crowds. The show's 25th anniversary in October 2011 was celebrated with with three sell-out performances at London's Royal Albert Hall.