INTERVIEW: Holly-Anne Hull, currently alternating the role of Christine in the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera

Holly-Anne Hull opened as Christine in the UK tour of The Phantom of the Opera in early 2020, this production shortly closed due to the closures of theatres going into the national lockdown. But this wasn't the end of the road for her, she is currently reprising her role in the West End production of the show and has just entered her second year in London where she alternates the role with Lucy St Louis. Her other credits include Ensemble and Cover Cosette in Les Miserables (Concert, West End production and International Tour), Holly Manson in Loserville (The Union Theatre) Gladys and Cover Lola in Copacabana (UK Tour) and Maid Marion in Robin Hood (Grove Theatre). 

After settling in to her second year in the West End production of Phantom with a new cast, we caught up with Holly-Anne Hull. 

You’ve recently opened with the new 2022/23 cast. How has it been welcoming in new cast members? 

It’s been really fun! Cast change is always a strange time because you are saying goodbye to some really special friends! But I have loved meeting the new cast members and we are excited to get into the year! 

What made you want to stay with this iconic show and role? 

I just don’t feel ready to leave yet! It’s been my dream role since I can remember and there’s no way I could say goodbye to it just yet!

COMING HOME: Holly-Anne Hull, in Les Miserables at the Sondheim Theatre and soon to be playing Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre

Pocket Size Theatre and Liza Heinrichs (Captured by Liz) have teamed up again and created our new series 'Coming Home'. In this new piece, we look at the reopening of Theatres in London and around the country and celebrate our industry coming back. We got together some performers who will be some of the first to return to theatres and created this piece to bring some positivity to the theatre industry which has been through one of the toughest years in our lifetime. Whilst it is important to acknowledge the hardships we've all gone through, it's important we pull together as a community and celebrate our beloved industry finally coming back! 

The Phantom of the Opera is a musical theatre staple in the theatre industry, with a run of almost 35 years in the West End and over 33 years on Broadway, the show has certainly made its mark as a legendary piece of theatre and a must-see for everyone around the world. The lead roles have become iconic with huge stars across the globe snapping up the chance to play them. Christine Daaé is probably one of the most famous musical theatre soprano roles in history; with stars such as Sarah Brightman and Sierra Boggess having the role on their CV (amongst so many other fantastic actresses). The next to follow in their footsteps is Holly-Anne Hull. 

The West End production of The Phantom of the Opera has recently announced that Lucy St Louis will be playing the role of Christine when it reopens on the 27th July 2021, a huge mark in the history timeline for the show as she will be the first black actress to play the role. An important step forward for diversity and inclusion in our industry. Following her short run on the UK touring production, Holly-Anne will move her way over to Her Majesty's Theatre as the alternate Christine alongside Lucy.