4 Mar 2026
Rehearsals underway for spectacular Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour - The Phantom of the Opera
Rehearsals have begun for the spectacular Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production of The Phantom of the Opera, which makes its highly anticipated return to Mrs Macquaries Point from 27 March to 3 May.
Cast are perfecting some of the most famous moments in musical theatre, including the hauntingly beautiful tunes “The Music of the Night” and ‘All I ask of You’ as well as the spectacular ensemble piece ‘Masquerade’, which all plays out across a 6 metre high staircase set against the glittering city lights.
With a stage that’s two and half times bigger than a regular theatre, an Olympic-sized rehearsal venue is required to prepare performers for the sheer scale of the work, so they will spend 4 weeks in a huge gymnasium space at Homebush before relocating to Mrs Macquaries Point to rehearse on the purposebuilt outdoor stage.
Director Simon Phillips is back to lead the new cast through his epic production of the mega musical.
“It is an absolute thrill to again be immersed in the world of The Phantom of the Opera. It is a magnificent work and the grand scale to which we can stage it at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour transforms it from a classic piece of theatre into something new again.” Phillips said.
Queensland newcomer Jake Lyle is preparing for his “dream-come-true” musical theatre debut as The Phantom, the 22-year-old Lyle from Gladstone, Queensland was discovered during ensemble auditions.
Although this is the fourth time playing the role of Christine for celebrated Australian soprano Amy Manford, this will be her first time performing on the Sydney Harbour stage, requiring additional preparation for performing out in the elements. Her onstage character’s counterpart, Raoul will be played by proud Wiradjuri man Jarrod Draper, who has stepped straight off the stage in another Lloyd Webber hit, Cats, to join Lyle and Manford, along with an ensemble of some of Australia’s best singers and dancers.
Combined with the jaw-dropping setting, the entire team, including Musical Supervisor Guy Simpson, Set & Costume Designer Gabriela Tylesova, Choreographer & Associate Director Simone Sault, Lighting Designer Nick Schlieper, and Sound Designer Shelly Lee, is working hard to bring a whole new level of spectacle to this musical masterpiece.
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is supported by the NSW Government, via its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, and through the International Foundation for Arts and Culture as Naming Rights Partner, Dr Haruhisa Handa OA’s Patron in Chief, and OA’s Principal Partner HSBC.
Creatives
Musical Supervisor Guy Simpson
Director Simon Phillips
Set & Costume Designer Gabriela Tylesova
Choreographer & Associate Director Simone Sault
Lighting designer Nick Schlieper
Sound Designers Shelly Lee
Assistant Director Matt Heyward
Cast
The Phantom Jake Lyle
Christine Daaé Amy Manford
Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny Jarrod Draper
Monsieur Firmin Brent Hill
Monsieur André Martin Crewes
Madame Giry Debora Krizak
Carlotta Giudicelli Guiseppina Grech
Ubaldo Piangi Daniel Belle
Meg Giry Jayme Jo Massoud
Ensemble
Jessica Bock, Mia Byrnes, Georgia Cosgrove, Mia Coutts, Matt Cranleigh, Zac de Gersigny, Anthony
Garcia, Michaela Hodgson, Bianca Hopkins, Catrin Lewis, Josephine Lonergan, Natalie Lui, James
MacAlpine, Imogen-Faith Malfitano, Sofia Mancini, Jake Maskill, Madeline McCartney, Ella Nonini,
Ryan Ophel, Ellise Pellizzer, Matthew Reardon, Annabelle Rosewarne, Julian Seguna, Anna
Stephens, Leon Vitogiannis, Vanessa You, Cathy-Di Zhang and Massimo Zuccara
Swings
Paul Whiteley, Tom Sharah and Rachel Breeze
Performance Information
Evenings at 7.30pm
27 March – 3 May, excluding Mondays and Good Friday on 3 April.
Running Time
Approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes with one interval.
Bookings
Adult tickets from $79 (fees may apply)
Opera Australia Box Office
(02) 9318 8200
opera.org.au/harbour
Fleet Steps,
Mrs Macquaries Point, Sydney
Rehearsal Images + Video available: Opera Australia Media Centre
Media enquiries
Caitlin Eames | Publicist | +61 433 746 644 | caitlin@cepr.com.au
Janet Glover | Communications Manager | +61 412 601 816 | janet.glover@opera.org.au