Ben Forster extends run in London's The Phantom of the Opera

Ben Forster extends stay in the West End

It has been announced that Ben Forster will extend his run as 'The Phantom' in Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic original production of The Phantom of the Opera at the Her Majesty's Theatre in London's West End until 2 September 2017.

He will remain in the company alongside Celinde Schoenmaker as 'Christine Daae', Nadim Naaman as 'Raoul', Siôn Lloyd as 'Monsieur Firmin', Mark Oxtoby as 'Monsieur Andre', Paul Ettore Tabone as 'Piangi', Daisy Hulbert as 'Meg', Lara Martins as 'Carlotta', Jacinta Mulcahy as 'Madame Giry' and Harriet Jones as alternate 'Christine Daaé'.

The full cast to 2 September 2017 includes Matt Blaker; Bridget Costello; Maria Coyne; Scott Davies; Hadrian Delacey; Morven Douglas; Ben Forster; Lyndsey Gardiner; Lori Gilchrist; Ryan Goscinski; Philip Griffiths; Hettie Hobbs; Lily Howes; Daisy Hulbert; Ellen Jackson; Harriet Jones; Richard Kent; Tim Laurenti; Adam Robert Lewis; Siôn Lloyd; Lara Martins; Luke McCall; Leo Miles; Fiona Morley; Tim Morgan; Paul Morrissey; Jacinta Mulcahy; Nadim Naaman; Mark Oxtoby; Danielle Pullum; James Roxby-Brown; Celinde Schoenmaker; Tom Sterling; Joanna Strand; Paul Ettore Tabone; Claire Tilling, Charlotte Vaughan; Victoria Ward and Georgia Ware.

Ben Forster is best known for winning the ITV1 show, 'Superstar' - Andrew Lloyd Webber's TV talent search for 'Jesus' in Jesus Christ Superstar. His other theatre credits include: 'Buddy' in Elf The Musical and 'Magaldi' in Evita both at the Dominion Theatre.

Celinde Schoenmaker has played the role of 'Fantine' in Les Misérables at The Queen's Theatre, having made her West End debut in 2013.

Nadim Naaman's London theatre credits include 'Anthony Hope' in Sweeney Todd at Harrington's Pie & Mash Shop; One Man, Two Guvnors at The National Theatre and Theatre Royal Haymarket and The Sound of Music at the London Palladium.

The Phantom of the Opera became the longest running show in Broadway history on 9 January 2006 when it celebrated its 7,486th performance, surpassing the previous record holder Cats. Winner of over 70 major theatre awards, including seven Tony's on Broadway and three Olivier Awards in the West End, it originally opened at Her Majesty's Theatre on 9 October 1986 starring Michael Crawford as 'The Phantom' and Sarah Brightman as 'Christine.'

Produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Theatre Company Limited, it became the first stage production to reach worldwide grosses of $6 billion. The musical has been seen by 140 million people worldwide in 35 countries and 160 cities in 15 languages. It is currently showing in London, New York, Budapest, Stockholm and on tour in the USA.

The Phantom of the Opera tickets are now on sale.