Rumours The Phantom Of The Opera original West End production will be replaced

The original West End production of The Phantom Of The Opera could be replaced, it’s been claimed.

The Phantom Of The Opera made its debut in the West End in 1986 with direction from Hal Prince and choreography by Gillian Lynne.

It’s rumoured that the original production could be replaced with an updated version, much like the recent changes made to Les Misérables.

It’s been speculated that the new production could see a smaller orchestra with alternative choreography and staging.

Responding to the reports, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber took to Twitter to say: “I’m doing everything in my power to ensure that when the Phantom returns it is the brilliant original”.

Featuring lyrics from Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe with a book by Stilgoe and Lloyd Webber, The Phantom Of The Opera is based on the French novel of the same name by Gaston Leroux.

It tells the story of soprano singer Christine Daaé who becomes the obsession of a masked musical genius who resides beneath a Paris opera house.

A petition to save the original production has been launched, notching up more than 2,500 signatures so far.

It was recently announced by producer Cameron Mackintosh that The Phantom Of The Opera would stay closed until 2021 due to the ongoing theatre shutdown.