Australian Production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies to Tour U.K.

By Adam Hetrick
15 Oct 2012

Ben Lewis and Anna O'Byrne in the original Australian production
Ben Lewis and Anna O'Byrne in the original Australian production

Plans are underway for a U.K. tour of the well-received Australian production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies, the sequel to his hit musical The Phantom of the Opera, according to the Scotsman.

Lloyd Webber told the Scotsman that Love Never Dies will launch a U.K. tour in autumn 2013. Directed by Simon Phillips (Priscilla Queen of the Desert), the Australian production of Love Never Dies differs from the now-closed London world-premiere staging. 

"The Australian production, which was wonderful - the London production wasn't very good, the Australians got it right - is going out next year," the composer said.

Love Never Dies has a score by Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tony nominee Glenn Slater (Sister Act, The Little Mermaid, Leap of Faith). The book is by Lloyd Webber, Ben Elton and Slater. Phantom lyricist Charles Hart is also credited with additional lyrics for the latest incarnation of the sequel.

Following a 2010 London premiere, which was not critically embraced, Lloyd Webber enlisted director Phillips and a new Australian creative team to stage a fresh production of the lavish musical, which traces the relationship of the Phantom and soprano Christine from Paris to Coney Island. It premiered in Melbourne in 2011.

Scenic-costume designer Gabriela Tylesova gave the production a darker, more brooding approach. The Australian staging also incorporated revisions to the script and score first implemented in London, while the original production was still running.

The Australian production was also filmed and broadcast in cinemas globally. It is available on Blu-ray and DVD.

Here's a look at the trailer for the Australian production of Love Never Dies: