David Thaxton cast as West End Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera

David Thaxton will play the role of the Phantom in the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera from 10 December.

Taking over the role from Tim Howar, Thaxton's previous credits include Javert and Enjolras in Les Misérables, Raoul in Love Never Dies and Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar. He won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in Passion at Donmar Warehouse.

Howar will return to the show on 13 May 2019, after performing contracted dates with Mike and the Mechanics.

Thaxton joins the current cast composed of joins Kelly Mathieson as Christine Daaé, Jeremy Taylor as Raoul, Amy Manford as the alternate Christine Daaé, Kimberly Blake as Carlotta Giudicelli, Ross Dawes as Monsieur Firmin, Mark Oxtoby as Monsieur André, Jacinta Mulcahy as Madame Giry, Paul Ettore Tabone as Ubaldo Piangi, Georgia Ware as Meg Giry and Scott Davies as the standby Phantom.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical won three Olivier Awards and seven Tony Awards when it opened in 1986 with Michael Crawford in the role of the Phantom alongside Sarah Brightman as Christine.