ANTHONY INGLIS SAYS GOODBYE

After 33 years with Phantom of The Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre it is with some regret I announce I will not be with it when it makes its return in 2021. I have always said this show is bigger than the people in it or who help re-create it every night. The future of the show is just that: the future!

Leaving aside the sadness I naturally feel for a 50% reduction in the acoustic sound and the cutting of 13 musicians from the wonderful original orchestration, there is no possible way Health & Safety would ever have allowed 25 musicians (2 were in the box overlooking the pit) back into a tiny area. Those who have watched us play at the play-out, know how cramped we were! Back in 1986, musicians' hearing was not such an important consideration, it was just something we accepted if we wanted to play in a pit. This has necessarily progressed over the years, until now, with the demanded increase in amplified volume, it is quite rightly a prime consideration. We had tried for a long while to mitigate the effects at Phantom with baffle boards, wrap around chairs, ear plugs and even ear defenders. 14 musicians will fit better and with protection in place will be more secure. You could say that in 2021 Phantom is in the perfect theatre for the show, but the wrong one for the orchestra.

Having said that, I much prefer an amplified acoustic sound to one that is artificial and amplified. I am pretty certain I would not want to conduct the new arrangement however great it sounds over speakers; though I can say I have heard it and to the vast majority of the audience, it will sound incredible!

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I wish the show every success under the new team. Running a show like this takes care, dedication and love, something the old team certainly had and I am sure the new resident creatives have in abundance! How could you not? It's a wonderful show and I will miss it dreadfully.

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However, the Inglis show goes on, and I have new concerts, tours and events coming up. I hope to see a lot of you there as we start to put the world of entertainment back together.