Love Never Dies previews commence today, Sydney

The Sydney season of Love Never Dies is set to begin this afternoon with the show’s first preview commencing at 3pm.

The Capitol Theatre has become the new home of the Phantom and his Coney Island freak show, and the production is scheduled to play until April 1 in this majestic, heritage listed venue.

Starring Ben Lewis as the Phantom and Anna O’Byrne as Christine this lauded production enjoyed 8 months at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre, but Sydney audiences can now revel in the world of the Phantom – which is both beautiful and grotesque in equal parts.

With Helpmann Award winning set and costume designs by Gabriella Tylesova, anyone who witnesses this production will at once understand why director Simon Phillips (Priscilla, Songs For Nobodies) deems Tylesova “pathologically incapable of drawing a straight line”. Magnificent sweeping curves of a roller coaster frame the stage in what is arguably the most beautiful set Australia has ever seen.

Stars of the Australian stage Sharon Millerchip, Simon Gleeson and Maria Mercedes reprise their roles of Meg Giry, Raoul and Madame Giry to complete the principal cast.

Much the same as in the Melbourne production, five young boys will share the role of Gustave, Christine’s son.

As the cast prepare for their opening performances, it is understood that the final touches are currently being placed on the soon-to-be released DVD of the show, which will see the original Australian cast’s performances immortalised on film. The show was filmed last year at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre for international DVD, Blu-Ray and Cinema release in February 2012.

Love Never Dies will officially open on Thursday 12 January and play an 8 show week (Tuesday – Sunday).