THE passion, the drama, the chandelier – it can only be The Phantom of the Opera.

From the moment the aforementioned chandelier is unveiled with a dramatic flourish, you know you’re in for a highly charged evening, and this new production of the 25-year-old musical certainly didn’t disappoint.

Although some of the music felt a little dated in places, it was still enough to send chills down your spine. The lavish set and costumes added to the drama and a real sense of mystery was created by the illusions of the smashing chandelier and the vanishing Phantom.

But the thing which most stood out for me was the voices - you could have heard a pin drop during the duets between Christine and the Phantom.

Not usually a fan of opera, I was captivated by the stunning, clear voice of Katie Hall as Christine, which was beautifully complemented by the extremely powerful and rich tones of Earl Carpenter as the Phantom.

It’s easy to see why this fantastic show is still going strong 25 years on.

Emma Joseph