DJ Joe Jackson

Andrew Lloyd Webber's work of art The Phantom of The Opera, continues on its own unrivaled West End run at Her Majesty's Theatre London, Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4QL. The Phantom of The Opera (in French Le Fantme de l'Opra) based on Gaston Lerouxs gothic work of fiction, is a haunting story of seduction and also despair.

Phantom of the Opera musical is set in the Paris Opera House during the 19th century, where the facially disfigured Phantom haunts and terrorizes occupants. Based on a classic French thriller about a terrifying and legendary figure who emerges from the depths of The opera House and manifests the mythic opera ghost in terrifying reality.

The mysterious masked Phantom falls deeply in love with the more youthful and attractive soprano Christine and whisks her off to his subterranean lair beneath the theatre to teach her to sing "like an angel". Despite the fact that she initially becomes entranced through him, she loves another: Raoul, a nobleman and patron of the Opera. She is confronted with a stark decision: remain faithful to the Phantom eternally, or he'll kill Raoul.

With some of the very most magnificent sets, outfits as well as special effects previously to have been created for the stage The Phantom of the Opera is definitely a musical phenomenon.

Phantom of the Opera is the jewel in the crown of Andrew Lloyd Webber. In London there has never been a seat unsold, and the musical has achieved in excess of 99% of potential capacity wherever it has been presented. Many tickets have been bought with seats being filled with enthralled customers.

The present Her Majesty's Theatre is really the 4th theatre to occupy the site. The first was called the Queen's Theatre, being built by Sir John Vanbrugh and opened on 9th April 1705. The theatre altered it's title to The Kings Theatre in 1714 when King George I ascended the throne. This theatre was linked to opera, until 1789 in the event the theatre had been destroyed by fire. The 2nd theatre was by designed by Michael Novosielski and opened in March 1791.

This theatre was again associated with opera, as well as ballet. It was here that some of Mozart's opera were first presented in London. In 1837 the name of the theatre was changed to Her Majesty's Theatre, Italian Opera House when Queen Victoria ascended to the throne. The 'Italian Opera House' part of the name was subsequently dropped in 1847. Then, in December 1867, the theatre was once again destroyed by fire. The theatre was rebuilt in 1869, this time designed by Charles Lee. In 1892 the theatre was demolished, leaving just the Royal Opera Arcade.

The present and 4th theatre on this site was designed by C J Phipps and opened up on 28th April 1897. Currently mostly plays were offered here, with just the occasional opera. And then in 1916 Chu Chin Chow began a record-breaking run of 2,238 performances. In 1929 Noel Coward's Bitter Sweet was produced here and also enjoyed a run of 697 performances. Following the Second World War the theatre mainly presented musicals, which included Brigadoon in 1949, Paint Your Wagon in 1953, West Side Story in 1958 and Fiddler On The Roof in 1967 which in fact had a run of 2,030 performances. The current production, Phantom of the Opera, opened here on 9th October 1986.