Love Never Dies - London Palladium

Believe it or not, The Phantom of the Opera got a sequel in the form of Love Never Dies, loosely based on Frederick Forsyth's novel The Phantom of Manhattan. As hard as it is for me to admit, especially given my love for Phantom, this is a show I could have done without.

The story is strange, to say the least. The love triangle has been reignited, this time with the addition of Gustave, Christine Daaé's young son. Set against the backdrop of the Coney Island fairground, Love Never Dies never captures the splendour of the original, outside of its orchestra at least.

The material itself is disappointing. Despite the occasional big ballad and a stunning opening number, the tunes are largely forgettable. The cast, however, did exceptionally well. Jamie Muscato was simply majestic as the Phantom, as I expected, and I look forward to the day I see his name outside His Majesty's Theatre. Celinde Schoenmaker was sublime as Christine, and I sat in awe of her vocal control. A real highlight was Mazz Murray as Madame Giry. Having seen her in other roles, I discovered a new facet of her talent through this character, and I was thoroughly impressed.

Beyond the performances, the orchestra and costuming were stunning, and the production clearly had care and craft behind it. Visually, the production pulls in two directions. LED lights stream down from the ceiling in a thoroughly modern staging, while the company moves through it in period costume. The costumes by Rebecca Brower are stunning in their own right, rich in detail and beautifully made, and the orchestra plays the score with more conviction than it perhaps deserves. But the two halves of the design never settle into a single world, and, ironically, that inconsistency suits the material perfectly: a production unsure of its own era, serving a story unsure of its own purpose.

I overheard at the interval that there is a reason this material is usually performed in concert form, and having seen the show, I understand why. The orchestra, costuming and casting were all stunning, but even the finest performers can't rescue incoherent material. In the end, Love Never Dies was not the show I expected.

Production Value: 50%

Value for Money: 50%

Personal Enjoyment: 50%

Overall Score: 50% - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3*)

(AD | Ticket gifted in exchange for an honest review)

Show Information

Venue: London Palladium

Limited Run from the 16-18th October 2026

Run Time: Approximately 2h40 - with an interval of 20 minutes