THE opening night of the UK school premier of The Phantom of the Opera at Stanwell School in Penarth was hailed a success by the audience, who gave a rapturous standing ovation to the young cast of 60 pupils ranging in age from 14-18.

With only 10 weeks of rehearsal and after only receiving the music six weeks before the performance opened, the talented pupils and their dedicated teachers triumphed. A representative from the Really Useful Group, Anna Unwin, read a message of support from Andrew Lloyd-Webber, who was unable to attend as he is recovering from a recent hip operation. She said: "Phantom has a really challenging score and is one of the most difficult musicals in our catalogue to stage.

"I am really impressed with the maturity of the principals‚ voices and the amazing depth of sound from the orchestra."

The opening night was also attended by Peter Karrie, who worked with the cast over the last few weeks of rehearsals to fine-tune their performances, and who lent his own phantom mask to Miles Braitwaite.

"It has been an honour to work with Peter, and having his mask was the perfect finishing touch," said Miles.

Rebecca Evans, the world-renowned soprano who performs regularly with the Welsh National Opera and at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, also attended and said she was "spellbound" by the performance, adding that the standard was so much more than she expected from a school production. She went backstage to congratulate the cast in person after the show, to cheers from the excited pupils.

Audience members were just as impressed.

One visitor said ‘it took my breath away’; another family said ‘it was as good as being in London’, and a third guest added ‘it was Phantom from the first note!" The only complaint came from one audience member, who was disappointed that she couldn’t see it again – as the four-night run was completely sold out!