Review: Phantom of the Opera on Sydney Harbour

Review by Alexa Hafner Keelan

One of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beloved musicals is now showing at Mrs Macquarie’s Point with the mesmerizing backdrop of Sydney Harbour. It is an open-air experience that embraces the many weather changes. Thankfully, opening night was spared from rain and instead accompanied by an evening breeze, aptly reflecting the presence of the mysterious Phantom. The magic of this musical has captured audiences for 40 years, and what better way to celebrate its legacy than overlooking Sydney Harbour. 

The love story follows a masked figure who lives below the Paris Opera House, whose obsession with a young soprano Christine, grows. He unleashes his sinister tendencies upon anyone who inhabits the opera house while simultaneously developing the talents of Christine to win over her love. It first aired in 1986 at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London and is now one of the longest running shows in London. In 1990, the show made its debut in Australia and now it returns in 2026 for an anniversary production. 

The Sydney harbour air takes your breath away as the production is about to start with the opulent chandelier in eye view. The familiar sound of the organ reveals itself and the nostalgic feeling of the show takes over and settles into the night.  Lighting designer Nick Schlieper brought the stage to life, bringing stunning colour effects and warmth to many scenes, always effectively capturing the emotional sensibility of the scene. 

The night was incredibly surprising led by spectacular moments of the performance. Many notable scenes including the masquerade ball ended with spectacular fireworks, something irreplicable in a closed theatre. The structure and flow of the production was seamless in the way the performers managed to move around the stage, thanks to choreographer and associate director Simone Sault.  

The anticipation of hearing iconic pieces such as All I Ask of You was breathtaking to witness. Jarrod Draper, a proud Wiradjuri man, portrayed charming Raoul in a powerful performance alongside Christine, played by Amy Manford. Manford, a globally recognised performer, has appeared in London’s West End production. She now brings her incredible talent to the Sydney production. She brought a vulnerability to the role of Christine, particularly during Think of Me, where her talents are first revealed. She later performed the reprise of Angel of Music in a hypnotic manner, capturing Christine’s surrender to the Phantom’s influence.

Jake Lyle, only 22 years of age, delivers an incredibly professional debut as the Phantom. He and successfully balanced his menace with moments of great vulnerability, as was evidenced during Music of the Night, where he showed a side of tenderness and depth beyond his years. The performance by Lyle engaged the audience with Phantom’s inner conflict, making his obsession with Christine more compelling. 

Carlotta, played by Giuseppina Grech captured the character’s extravagant and grandiose personality with a humorous touch. She paired well with Ubaldo Piangi, played by Daniel Belle, particularly during the Hannibal rehearsal scene.

The experience of being outdoors brought new opportunities to the production, and the sound design was a success. Sound designer Shelly Lee captured the Phantom’s haunting presence from all directions. 

Another striking aspect of the outdoor staging was that the musicians were hidden beneath the stage, yet under the exceptional direction of Guy Simpson, their performance was remarkable. Nothing could have prepared the audience for how Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score would sound in the open air, with moonlight above heightening the emotions of this tragic love story.

From furs to feathered headpieces, the extravagance brought by award-winning set and costume designer Gabriela Tylesova was incredible. Tylesova brought vibrancy to the stage through ensembles featuring striking patterns, colours, and fabrics that blended seamlessly into the persona of each character. Starting from Act One, it was difficult to take our eyes off Carlotta’s extravagant, full 18th–19th century-inspired gowns. 

There is a certain magic and grandeur associated with the production that lingers long after the last note has faded away. It was an exceptional experience with the cast delivering an incredible performance. It was an enchanting open-air experience that, with the iconic musical, unsurprisingly breaking box office records.

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