Harbour stage beckons Phantom of the Opera to haunt again

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famed Opera Ghost will haunt the harbour again next year as The Phantom of the Opera returns to launch the production’s 40th anniversary.

Joshua Robson as The Phantom and Georgina Hopson as Christine Daae in Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour’s 2022 production of The Phantom of the Opera.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famed Opera Ghost will haunt the harbour again next year as The Phantom of the Opera returns to launch the production’s 40th anniversary.

The new adaptation of Phantom was first floated in 2022 for Opera Australia’s Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour and went on to be seen by more than 60,000 people across its 26 performances.

Lloyd Webber’s adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s 1909 novel of the same name first premiered in London in October 1986 and has gone on to be seen by more than 160 million people around the world.

The Phantom of the Opera. Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour’s Fleet Steps..

Opera Australia’s harbour production was the first major adaptation of the work to be staged outdoors, and that didn’t come without its challenges.

The March season was famously hampered by monsoonal rain with videos of Georgina Hopson, who played Christine Daae, and Josh Robson, who played the Phantom, performing in torrential rain going viral around the world.

The Phantom of the Opera in Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour lit up the harbour in 2022. The 2026 season launches at Mrs Macquaries Point from March 27.

The return season forms part of 40th anniversary celebrations planned around the world, including the recently announced immersive adaptation, titled Masquerade, which opens in New York next week and requires patrons to wear a mask, is expected to be extended into next year.

“We’re honoured to be playing such a prominent role in the 40th anniversary global celebrations for this iconic musical, in the same year that OA is marking its own significant milestone with its 70th anniversary,” Opera Australia’s acting CEO Simon Militano said.

“Our spectacular staging of The Phantom of the Opera, with its magical setting on Sydney Harbour, and the sweeping gothic romance and unforgettable music, all combines to create a fantastic showcase of OA’s artistic excellence, and an event not to be missed.”

The return of Phantom to the harbour is a sensible strategic decision for the opera company which posted a $10 million deficit last year.

The original production boasted the highest grossing box office for Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour in its 13-year history.

It is also a major boon for the tourism industry, even on the back of Covid and reduced international travel, the previous production still drew 21% of its audience from interstate and overseas, a number the NSW government, who have invested in the production, will be hoping to beat in 2026.

“Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is a signature event on our calendar that showcases Sydney’s unique combination of culture and nature to the world. Staging an iconic production like Phantom in its milestone year, under the stars, on the water with the spectacular city skyline as the backdrop illustrates why Sydney is renowned as a global hub for cultural experiences,” tourism minister Steve Kamper said.

Joshua Robson as The Phantom and Georgina Hopson as Christine Daae in Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour's 2022 production of The Phantom of the Opera.

The return engagement brings back the original creative team, including director Simon Phillips, who said he was delighted audiences would have another opportunity to see the production, albeit hopefully this time with less inclement weather.

“There is just something magical about it, with all the terrible tricks of fate to do with the weather aside, there is something magical about the show working on that scale on that background,” he said.

While the show will remain as it was in 2022, there is one small change Phillips is quite eager to make – the timing of the iconic fireworks which form part of Opera on the Harbour each year.

While traditionally the display takes place at the conclusion of the first act, Phillips has something special in mind for the 2026 production.

“I very particularly wanted the fireworks to occur at a particular time in the body of the show, but to make sure they go off on the beat of the music, that is something we have to make sure we get right.”

Guests at the original opening night in 2022 were treated to a DJ set from Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber before it was cut short by rain. There is no word on whether DJ Andy will make an appearance next year.

Phantom of the Opera plays at Mrs Macquaries Point from March 27 – April 26, 2026.

Originally published as Harbour stage beckons Phantom of the Opera to haunt again