Opera Australia announces its exceptional trio for Phantom of the Opera at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour

Opera Australia has announced that celebrated Australian soprano Amy Manford has been cast as Christine Daaé in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera when it returns for a much anticipated, limited season at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour from 27 March to 3 May next year.  

Amy has previously attracted global recognition for her portrayal of the Phantom’s protégé, Christine, having played the role to critical acclaim in both the recent Australian in-theatre tour and the West End production in London.

Amy will be joined by newcomer Jake Lyle who will making his musical theatre debut as one of the industry’s most iconic characters, the Phantom. The 22-year-old from Gladstone, Queensland is still studying Classical Voice at Queensland Conservatorium and is currently an Emerging Artist in Residence at Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

Rising Australian musical theatre star Jarrod Draper will complete the trio of leads as Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny. Born in Orange, New South Wales, and a proud Wiradjuri man, Draper has made waves in Australia, becoming the first indigenous man to graduate from WAAPA’s prestigious Musical Theatre program. He has previously performed in Moulin Rouge, Sunset Boulevard and most recently as Munkustrap in CATS.

This production will mark the debut at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour for all three singers, who will undertake the epic task of performing on Australia’s largest outdoor stage floating above Sydney Harbour.

Directed by Australia’s master of musical theatre, Simon Phillips, with elaborate costumes & set design by Gabriela Tylesova and choreography by Associate Director Simone Sault, the harbour setting brings a whole new level of spectacle to this legendary musical. Unmatched views of world-renowned Sydney Opera House, a live orchestra, nightly fireworks and pop-up restaurants and bars, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is one of the most unique theatrical experiences in the world, and the only place where you can see this magnificent, grand-scale production of The Phantom of the Opera under the stars.