The Phantom of the Opera Programme

Directors’ welcome

How do you build a falling chandelier in a college venue? How do you make a student “disappear without a trace” or shoot fireballs across a space which is nothing but a lecture theatre by day? The logistics didn’t matter: we were determined to make it happen. Directing ‘Phantom of the Opera’ has been a rollercoaster more complex than that of the Phantom’s labyrinth. With just as many twists and turns, we’ve turned a 38-person cast, 27piece band, and $6b grossing musical into an OUDS-sized chunk of West End magic, right here in Oxford. Doing justice to the script and score has been an undertaking of mammoth proportions and just as much fun; the cast, band, and crew have been nothing short of miracle-workers. And so, we invite you to our Opera House - sit back, relax, and enjoy the music of the night…

Jak, Tom and Alexandra

Act 1 Synopsis

Act 1 It is 1911 and the contents of the Paris Opera House are being auctioned off. Raoul, now seventy years old and in a wheelchair, buys a poster and a music box. As the auctioneer displays the Opera House chandelier, he explains that it is connected with the legend of The Phantom of the Opera. With a flash of light, the audience is flung back in time to the middle of a rehearsal for the opera Hannibal. As the prima donna, Carlotta, is singing, a backdrop falls to the floor, nearly killing her. The cry is raised, "It's The Phantom of the Opera!"

Upset, Carlotta refuses to sing. Meg Giry suggests that her friend, Christine Daaé, take Carlotta’s place. Christine has been taking lessons from a mysterious new teacher. At her triumph in the Opera is Raoul, a nobleman and patron of the Opera. Raoul recognizes Christine as a childhood friend and tries to reconnect with the suggestion of dinner. When Raoul leaves Christine’s room, the jealous Phantom appears. Christine is lured into the bowels of the Opera House, where the Phantom will continue her lessons. She faints, only to be awakened several hours later by the Phantom’s music box. Creeping up behind him, she rips off his mask. Horrified, he takes her back to the surface. The Phantom has sent notes to both the managers of the Opera, as well as Raoul, Madame Giry and Carlotta, which give instructions that Christine will have the lead in the new opera, Il Muto. The managers refuse to give in to the Phantom's demands. Il Muto proceeds as planned, with Carlotta in the lead. As promised, disaster strikes - the flies manager Joseph Buquet is killed and Carlotta’s voice is stolen. In the confusion, Raoul and Christine escape to the roof of the Opera House, where they pledge their love to one another. The Phantom, enraged at Christine's betrayal, causes the final disaster of the night - the mighty chandelier comes crashing to the stage floor.

Act 2 Synopsis

Act 2 The second act opens at a grand Masquerade Ball, held on the steps of the Paris Opera. No one has heard from the Phantom in six months. Christine and Raoul are engaged but are keeping it a secret. Suddenly, the Phantom appears, disguised as The Red Death, and delivers to the managers a score from his opera, Don Juan Triumphant. At first, the managers refuse to perform the strange, disturbing opera. Then, with the help of Raoul, they devise a plan to trap the Phantom, using Christine as bait. Plans for Don Juan Triumphant, and the trap, are made. Christine visits the grave of her father. There on the grave stands the Phantom, beckoning her to join him. Raoul appears and takes her away. At last, the opening night of Don Juan Triumphant arrives. The theater is surrounded by guards and police eager to catch the Phantom. As the opera comes to its end, the Phantom murders and takes the place of Piangi, the lead singer. He confronts Christine on stage during the performance, and escapes with her once more to his labyrinth below the Opera House. In a last confrontation, the Phantom gives Christine a choice: stay with him forever, or he will kill Raoul. Her decision brings to an end the story of The Phantom of the Opera.

DIRECTORS

JAK SPENCER Co-Director

Jak has worked on shows in many departments over the last few years. He played a Narrator in "Persephone" OP MT21, Mr Stephens in "Carrie" OP TT22, Achilles in "Troy Story: Age of the Hero" O'Reilly MT22, Ensemble in "Bare: A Pop Opera" O'Reilly HT23 He was also a set and lighting assistant in "An American in Paris" OP HT23, in addition to a sound op the OUCD showcase HT23. One of his favourite positions in a show, he was Head of Set for "The Great Gatsby" OP TT23. He is incredibly excited to show everyone "The Phantom of the Opera", his first attempt at directing, he is incredibly proud of everyone's hard work on the show so far and knows you're in for an absolute treat!!

TOM FREEMAN Co-Director

Tom Freeman is a second year Ancient and Modern History student at University College. Within Oxford, he has most recently delved into the production world of student drama through his role as director of Dial M for Murder (BT Studio, MT23) Before this, he was an assistant producer and cast member of the sell out run of Dead Man’s Suitcase (Edinburgh Fringe 2023), and a cast member in Such Entanglements and Carnage (BT Studio, TT23), Bare: A Pop Opera (Keble O’Reilly, HT23) and Dead Man’s Suitcase (BT Studio, MT22). Various credits in amateur theatre include A Christmas Carol (Hey Up! Theatre Company, Sheffield, December 2021), Songs From the Seven Hills (Sheffield People’s Theatre, Sheffield Crucible, 2018), and The Changing Room (Sheffield People’s Theatre, Sheffield Crucible, 2018).

ALEXANDRA HART

AssociateDirector

Alexandra is a Creative Writing student from Keble. This is her 16th student production to be involved in, having previously directed a 5-star musical at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2022 and ‘Hello Dolly’ in Durham’s 500-seat Gala Theatre last February.

Cast AND BAND

Christine Daae

Chloe Cameron

The Phantom Declan Ryder

Raoul de Chagny

James Pearson

Carlotta Guidicelli Eleanor Bogie

Ubaldo Piangi Louisa Woolley

Giles Andre

Richard Firmin

Christian Goodwin

Kayvan Gharbi

Madame Giry Izzy Black

Meg Giry Rebekah Devlin

Ensemble/Passarino Iris Burlacu

Ensemble/Marksman

Ensemble/Confidante

Ensemble/Auctioneer

Karina Suttie

Eleanor Hopkinson

Clara Heck

Ensemble/Chief Lowenna Hayter

Ensemble/Reyer

Ensemble/Lefevre

Ensemble/Buquet

Charlie Mullin

Branagh

CrealockAshurst

Josh Timmins

Musical Director

Assistant Musical Director

Flute/Piccolo

Flute/Clarinet

Clarinet/Bass Clarinet

Oboe/Cor Anglais

Bassoon

Horn

Trumpet

Trumpet

Trombone

Keys 1

Keys 2

Percussion

Harp

Violin

Violin

Violin

Viola

Cello

Double Bass

Joe Waymouth

John Skeen

Vivian Jin

Anna Jackman Straw

Dominic De Vivenot

Louis Benneyworth

Nikita Jain

John Spence

Ryan Bloxsom

Michael Lee

Josh Dennis

Lizzy Gür

John Skeen

Dan Kimberley

Jonathan Hampshire

Isabel Samuel

Alyssa Kim

Peter Pakdeejit

Felix Patten

Henry Le Feber Robertson

Anton March

Michelle Stanley

Cast Christine

ChloeCameron

DAAÉ

Chloe is a medical anthropology masters student at Linacre College. Before arriving at Oxford, she was a lighting designer and producer during her undergraduate degree. She designed for shows including Eurydice (2022) and Hedda Gabler (2021), as well as multiple dance concerts. Before this, she played roles including Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2019), Abby Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace (2019), and Grandma Addams in The Addams Family (2018). This is her first time back on stage in over four years. She is so excited and grateful to be playing Christine. This has been Chloe’s dream role for as long as she can remember, and she can’t wait to share this wonderful show with everyone!

THE PHANTOM

DeclanRyder

Declan is a 3rd year AMH student at Univ. He has previously played Beadle Bamford in Sweeney Todd (HT22), Mr Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors (TT22), Max in The Real Thing (MT22), Matt in Bare: A Pop Opera (HT23), Barfee in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (TT23), Clym in Placeholder (TT23) and Paul in Milked (MT23). He can’t wait to perform his final show in Oxford alongside such a wonderfully talented cast and crew.

raoul de chagny

JamesPearson

James (sometimes caught masquerading under the name JP) is a little baby fresher, and could not be more excited to be part of this incredible production. He has been lucky enough to play roles such as Billy in Anything Goes and Thorin Oakenshield in the Hobbit, but has enjoyed the challenge of embodying the “simpy shrimp” Raoul (as described by certain members of the cast). Outside of acting (and very rarely actually doing his music degree), James sings with the Keble Choir and Out of the Blue, and is on the GB Taekwondo Squad. But don’t get the wrong impression: Raoul the wetwipe doesn’t stand a chance against the Phantom of the Opera - martial arts doesn’t quite work against flying fireballs. Aside from multiple near death experiences, including but not limited to these stray fireballs, taking 10 years off James’ life expectancy, the Phantom run has been a dream come true for him, and the whole team can’t wait for you to “help make our song take flight”.

Cast

CARLOTTA GIUDICELLI

EleanorBogie

Eleanor is a 3rd year masters student reading Chemistry at Merton College. Before her starting her degree, Eleanor played Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady (2019) and Liesl in The Sound of Music (2020) with The Cambridge Operatic Society in their semiprofessional productions at the Cambridge Arts Theatre. Since beginning Oxford Eleanor has performed as Medea in Songs of the Silenced (BT Studio, MT21), as ensemble in Carrie (Oxford Playhouse, TT22), Hera in Troy Story (O'Reilly, MT22) and Nadia in Bare (O'Reilly, HT23) and is very excited to now be performing as the screechy peachy cantatrice Carlotta. Enjoy the show!

Ubaldo Piangi LouisaWooley

After successfully playing the Med School Director in the medic panto she has a) fortunately not been kicked out and b) decided to grace the stage as Piangi- who might be compared to Phantom's version of the GoCompare man. Obvious type casting aside, in her spare time Louisa likes to go on holiday and talk about going on holiday. She hablos poco espanol and is running a marathon soon, recently having been seen on 2 hour runs before all day rehearsals. Do we diagnose insanity...? her next placement is psych after all.

MADAME GIRY

IzzyBlack

Izzy is a first year DPhil student specialising in marine biology. This is her first show in Oxford after a few years away from student theatre! She has had the best time working alongside such a talented cast, crew and band. Random degree choice aside, Izzy's other strange hobbies include Ultimate Frisbee, fermenting foods and feeling sorry for pigeons.

Cast

MEG GIRY

RebekahDevlin

Rebekah is a first year music student and choral scholar at Exeter College. She has been involved in musical theatre for many years, being part of the Belfast School of Performing Arts. She has played roles such as Fantine (les mis), ‘Reno’ (anything goes), Wednesday’ (The Addams family) and ‘little red’ (Into the woods). Rebekah also sings with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. She sang with NI opera, as the child soloist in ‘La bohemé’ and Mendelssohn’s ‘Elijah’. In 2021, she was a finalist in BBC ‘Young Chorister of the Year’. Rebekah is so excited to be playing the part of Meg in one of her favourite musicals.

GILES ANDRE

ChristianGoodwin

Christian is a second year jurisprudence at St John’s College. Before coming to Oxford he was involved in various productions, playing Thernardier in a School production of “Les Miserables” and being involved in multiple shows in the Crucible in Sheffield. During his time at Oxford he performed in the Eglesfield Player’s production of “25th annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and both the BT and Edinburgh Fringe run of “Dead Man’s Suitcase”.

RICHARD FIRMIN

KayvanGharbi

Kayvan is a medical doctor from Australia here studying an MSc in Global Health and Epidemiology (i.e. avoiding doing his actual career) with an interest in leveraging machine learning for healthcare. When not managing opera finances, Kayvan is a prolific attention seeker (to quote Louisa), performing stand up + sketch comedy with the Oxford Revue and dancing with the Oxford Salsa Team. Offstage, Kayvan is possibly even more chaotic and enjoys scuba diving, crashing vehicles and avoiding eye contact with magpies

Cast

Ensemble/Passarino IrisBurlacu

IrisisasecondyearmusicstudentatKeble,andthisisherthirdshowinOxford.Shehas slightlyneglectedherdegreethisterm,buthashadthebesttimeinrehearsals!

Ensemble/Marksman

KarinaSuttie

Karina is in her 3rd year studying PPE at St Hugh's College. Previous productions include The Addams Family Musical, Wings: A New Musical, and Medea: the Oxford Greek Play

Ensemble/Confidante

EleanorHopkinson

Eleanor is a first year psychology and philosophy student at Brasenose. This is her second show as a performer in Oxford after Twisted last term and she is excited to perform in such a classic show!

Ensemble/AUCTIONEER

ClaraHeck

I’m a second year French & German student at Exeter, and I’m looking forward to doing my first show in the O’ Reilly! I have been involved in a few other shows in my time here so far (An American in Paris HT23, Guys & Dolls HT23, Liebelei TT24, Twisted MT24) and I’m so excited to be part of this one!

Cast

Ensemble/CHIEF LowennaHayter

Lowennaasecond-yearmusicstudentatKebleandthisismysecondshowatOxford(though myfirsttimeinthecast)!Hopeyouenjoytheshow:)

Ensemble/REYER

CharlieMullin

This is my second Oxford show and so glad the Phantom could be here so we could perform this amazing show!

Ensemble/Lefèvre BranaghCrealock-Ashurst

Branagh is studying for the MSc in Global Health Science and Epidemiology. He is a qualified medical doctor undertaking speciality training in Public Health Medicine in the Thames Valley. After being heavily involved in musical theatre for most of his life, he has spent several years away from the stage due to working and the Covid-19 pandemic. He is looking forward to his University of Oxford theatrical debut and a return to performing!

Ensemble/Buquet

JoshTimmins

I’m a first year Spanish and Linguistics student at Catz, this is my first show at Oxford and it’s been amazing!

Crew

PRODUCER

FinleyBettsworth

Finleyisa5thyearmedicalstudentatBrasenose.Thoughheinitiallycameintothetheatre worldasalightingdesigner,havinglitSweeneyTodd,AnAmericaninParisandThe TempestattheOxfordPlayhouse,hehasbeeninvolvedacrossallareasofmanyproductions, andiscurrentlytheOUTTSPresident.Hehaspreviouslyproducedanumberofshows, includingTheGreatGatsbyattheOxfordPlayhouse.Heisincrediblyexcitedtoproducea showaslegendaryasPhantom,andhopesyouenjoytheshow!

CO-PRoduction manager KittyFoster

Kittyisasixth-yearmedicatStCatzStudenttheatrehasbeenoneofthehighlightsofher timeatOxfordHermostrecenttheatricalendeavoursincludeProductionManagerand LightingDesignerforTingewick:Carespray–ClinicallyBlonde(TingewickHall,HT23), andProductionManagerandDeputyStageManagerforRent(BernardSunleyLecture Theatre,HT20).ShealsotookontheroleofProductionManagerforMe,AsaPenguinand Buckets,StageManagerforChicagoandBonne&Clydeandseveralamateurtheatre productionsinCambridge.KnowingeverynoteofAndrewLloydWebber’siconicmusical, shecouldnothelpbutgetinvolvedwithThePhantomoftheOpera,asherfinalOxford show!

CO-PRoduction manager AmyPatel

Amyisasixth-yearmedicatGreenTempletonCollegeShehasbeeninvolvedinawide rangeofrolesinstudenttheatre,mostrecentlyastheAssistantDirectorforTingewick: Carespray-ClinicallyBlondeSheislookingforwardtobringingtogetherashowofthis dramaticscale!

marketing manager

EmmaLittle

EmmaisathirdyearatExeterandenjoysprocrastinatingherdegreebymarketingOxford drama.Aftermarketingasell-outrunofDeadMan’sSuitcaseforthe2023EdinburghFringe andBrokenWheelProductions’DialMforMurder(MT23)she’ssoexcitedtobeinvolvedin Phantomthisterm!

Crew

Choreographer

ChristineZhao

“Everythingmoves”,sodoesChristineShehasbeentwirlingandhoppingforover10years,andcurrentlyrunsOxford PhoenOxChineseDanceSocietySheenjoyedexploringthenarrativepowerofmovementswhenchoregraphingcontemporary duetsandpiecesindifferenttheatretraditionsThisisthefirsttimeshechoreographsforatheatreproduction,andsheisso impressedbythisgroupoftalentedpeople

Assistant choreographers

WrenTalbot-Ponsonby,KaelyMichels-Gualtieri)

WElFARE OFFICER

HarrietNorris

Graphic/ART Designer

LydiaLittlejohnandCindyLiu

Marketing assistant

MahirahRahman

SOUND DESIGNER & MIXER

RafeeAhmed

RafeeisafinalyearmedicalstudentatHertfordCollegeHisexperienceoftheatretechstartedpriortouniversity,leading lighting,soundandprojectionforvariouseventsandproductionsasLeadTechnicianathisschoolWhilstlearningaboutaudio heworkedintheschool’srecordingstudio,andmixedforlivebandnights,eventuallyrunningacourseteachingmusicrecording tostudentsNotableexperiencesincludeworkingasSoundDesignerfor‘LesMiserables’,‘OurCountry’sGood’and‘Othello’ Havingmissedthebuzzofthetheatrescene,hemadehisdebutinOxfordworkingasSoundOperatorfor‘Enron’(Oxford Playhouse,HT19),andSoundDesignerfor‘ALittleNightMusic’(Queen’sGarden,TT19)Morerecently,hejoinedthe MedicalSchool’sTingewickSocietyin2022,workingonpantomimesasLightingDesignerfor‘TheRitaHorrorStrictureShow’ (StJohn’sAuditorium,MT22)andSoundDesignerfor‘Carespray:ClinicallyBlonde’(TingewickHall-JRHospital,HT23) He’slookingforwardtoworkingon'ThePhantomoftheOpera'inhisfinaltermbasedinOxford,andsharinghispassionwith otherskeentogetinvolvedinsounddesign

SOund assistants

MahirahRahman,HannahWei,ElizabethNelsonandFelixWestcott(traineemixer)

Pyro technician

MattyArakcheev AfterspendingfartoomuchtimeintheO'Reillydoingproduction(HamletMT23),I'vedecidedtocopebysettingthewhole placeonfire!!

Crew

lighting designer

MatildaJackson-Long

TillyisathirdyearClassicistatStAnne’sShewasfirstintroducedtolightingwhenshewastheLightingAssistantonLittleShop ofHorrors(Queen’sgardenplay,TT22),andtheFollowSpotOperatoronCarrie(Playhouse,TT22)Sincethen,shehas workedonanumberofstudent,amateur,andprofessionalproductionsinvariousplacesincludingOxford,London,and EdinburghAspartofOxforddrama,shehasbeentheAssociateLightingDesignerofTheGreatGatsby(Playhouse,TT23),and LightingDesigneronDeadMan’sSuitcase(BT,MT22),Sockpuppet(CurveTheatre,Leicester,NSDF2023),The Metamorphosis(Pilch,TT23),PlusOne(UpstairsattheGatehouse,London,June-July2023),DeadMan’sSuitcase(Edinburgh Fringe2023),ToadofToadHall(Pilch,MT23),Dial‘M’forMurder(BT,MT23),JohnandJen(Pilch,MT23),andBlackadder (Pilch,HT24).HercreditsinamateurandprofessionalproductionsincludeLightingAssistant,JekyllandHyde(PittRivers Museum,2022);LightingDesigner,Ringer(King’sHeadTheatre,London,July2023),LightingDesigner,ScaramoucheJones (StBarnabasChurch,October2023);LightingOperator,TheToymaker’sChild(ChickenshedTheatre,London,Dec23-Jan 24);andLightingDesigner,BuryMe(RiversideStudios,BitesizeFestival,Feb’24).TillyhasalsodoneashortcourseinStage LightingatGuildhall,andhasshadowedthelightingdepartmentontheRSC’sproductionofMyNeighbourTotoroatthe Barbican.SheiscurrentlytheSecretaryandFreshers&TrainingrepfortheOxfordUniversityTechnicalTheatreSocietyanda TechImpfortheOxfordImps.

Associate lighting designer

JoeDavies

Lighting assistants

IslaIngham-Lenman,TedFussell,ElizaHogermeerandPhoebeDavies

Set designers

IsabellaEckartandCindyLui

SET ASSISTANTS

CaydenOng,ElizabethNelson,SophieWu,AidanaOrazgaliyeva,AmriShakir Props manager

SaskiaAbou-khaterRobbiati Props assistant

LucyPollock

Costume designer & makeup artist

TylerDaly

Englishstudentwhohasbeendrowninginfrillsandpetticoats!

Costume Assistants

BeccaSmithandJadeGlendinning

Crew stage manager

KaveetaMalhi

Deputy stage manager

MinaMoniri

Trainee Deputy stage manager

CaydenOng

Assistant stage managers

MarioMarcosLosada,CatrinJones,GeorginaKing,AmriShakir, IvyStephens,NidhiGirish

Assistant producer

ZhaoYiLin

Thanks

ThankstotheCameronMacintoshDramaFundfortheirvitalsupportfortheshow. Additionally,thankstotheBrasenose,Exeter,GreenTempleton,Hertford,Keble, Magdalen,StAnne’s,StCatz,StJohnsandUniversityCollegeJCR/MCRsfortheir supportfortheshow.

MusicbyAndrewLloydWebber

LyricsbyCharlesHart

AdditionallyricsbyRichardStilgoe

BookbyRichardStilgoe&AndrewLloydWebber

Basedonthenovel“LeFantomede‘l’Opéra”byGastonLeroux

OriginallydirectedbyHaroldPrince OrchestrationsbyDavidCullen&AndrewLloydWebber

OriginalproductionbyCameronMackintoshLtd.andTheReallyUsefulGroupLtd. AUniversityproductionbyarrangementwithTheReallyUsefulGroupLtd.