The Phantom of the Opera will need a period of “extended closure" to undertake maintenance work of the set and theatre.
This is the statement:
“Cameron Mackintosh and the Really Useful Group have over the last few months of the London run and since the enforced closure of The Phantom of the Opera due to Covid-19 undertaken a number of specialist inspections to see how much repair and maintenance work is needed to be done to the physical production and the theatre. The conclusion is that unfortunately the work is so considerable, a period of extended closure is urgently needed. The set of this, the original production, is now over 34 years old and unsurprisingly many of the scenic elements are coming to the end of their natural life which was never envisaged to be as long as this when first built. LW Theatres, operator of Her Majesty’s Theatre, also need to attend to a number of remedial works on this historic building that for the last four decades has only been able to undertake decorative work.”
Earlier this week, Andrew Lloyd Webber took to social media to address concerns the production would not return as it originally opened, but with half orchestra and a different choreography and setting.