Peter Cavanna first saw Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical in 1988. Nearly four decades later, its Gothic melodrama, ability to surprise, and dedicated “Phandom” keep him coming back.
As The Phantom of the Opera gets ready to celebrate 40 years in the West End, one fan is looking back at almost four decades of memories and friendships. Peter Cavanna first saw Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical in 1988 and has now returned around 160 times. He’s seen countless Phantoms behind the mask, made some of his closest friends through the show’s “Phan” community, and even flown to Athens to watch his favourite Phantom perform again.
It Started With “The Music of the Night”
Back in the ‘80s, eager fans had to post off for a ticket, and they didn’t even know what date they’d get. “It seems incredible now,” says Peter, who listened to the cast recording countless times before he saw the show in London. He wasn’t alone: “Most people who loved Phantom of the Opera probably heard it before they ever saw it.”
For the first few trips, he ordered two tickets, hoping that he might find a date to take with him. The date never appeared, but it didn’t matter: he only had eyes for the Gothic spectacle on stage.
“I think what grabbed me was the theme of unrequited love. The music is genius. It’s a genius score, I wouldn’t alter a single part of it [...] It sort of hits me in all the right places.”
Why See the Same Show 160 Times?
For Peter, seeing the same show doesn’t mean having the same experience. Although he “intellectually” knows what’s coming, different actors can still make it feel “all new every time”.
The final 12 minutes are what he loves the most
“That last 12 minutes is really why I keep going back. I’m waiting to see: what will the actors do with this today? Where’s the nuance going to be? That, to me, is the electric moment of the show.”
His favourite Phantom, Tim Howar, made the final scene feel so “dangerous” that, although he knew the show like the back of his hand, Peter briefly thought the ending might actually change.
“For one moment, I really believed that the story would be changed. That’s a phenomenal thing for an actor to do.”
The performance had such an impact that he later flew to Athens just to see Howar put on the mask again.
Finding a “Phamily”
Although Peter didn’t find a date in the early days, Phantom did bring another type of relationship into his life. The show has a dedicated community of “Phans” who meet up virtually and in person to enjoy the show.
“It creates an eclectic group, so it's not people who are necessarily my age, my gender, my religion, my viewpoint. They’re all different, but Phantom brings them together.”
One theatre friend is now affectionately known as “auntie”. Peter, meanwhile, often plays uncle to newer fans, meeting them at their first show or giving them stage door tips.
He also wants to make sure every new audience member enjoys the show as much as he does - and it starts with having a great seat. Since 2018, Peter has added more than 100 seat reviews of His Majesty’s Theatre to SeatPlan, and helped many more audiences find the best seats for Phantom of the Opera in London with his tips from across the auditorium.
“For me, it’s just sharing the love. Especially if I’ve got a bad seat, I’m trying to warn someone not to go there because I want them to really enjoy the show.”
“Let the Spectacle Astound You”
As Phantom approaches the big 4-0, Peter believes it could keep running forever because of its wide appeal - and his own love of the show hasn’t faded.
“How incredible it is to fall in love with something that you know won't disappoint you [...] I feel really blessed.”
And what would someone who’s seen Phantom 160 times say to someone experiencing it for the first time? While Peter personally loves the front row for spotting every nuance, he’d recommend a Royal Circle seat to take in the spectacle, stagecraft and surprises, as well as the deeply human story behind it all.
“It’s just an extraordinary experience in London that you’ll simply never forget. One of the lines in Act 2 is ‘let the spectacle astound you’ and that’s what Phantom of the Opera has been doing for 40 years. Its spectacle has been astounding people.”
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