Up until March 2013 I had not really given The Phantom of the Opera much thought. I had once started to watch the 2004 film starring Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum but did not manage to get to the end of the film (I must have fallen asleep).

I knew of the famous ‘Duuuuun Dun Dun Dun Dun Duuuuuuun’ in the ‘Overture’ and ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ as it’s been used to introduce Andrew Lloyd Webber, I also knew that he had decided to make a sequel ‘Love Never Dies’ in 2010.

I had noticed that the Birmingham Hippodrome was currently showing The Phantom of the Opera. As I had recently been to see a fair few musicals, I thought that it was about time that I see this one.

Since seeing the current production, I have become slightly obsessed with the musical. I have listened to the 2003 soundtrack performed by the London Cast, watched the DVD of the 25th anniversary at the Royal Albert Hall, watched the 2004 film starring Gerard Butler and also listened to its soundtrack.

The live performance has to be my favourite, as it was the first time I had seen it. I was totally blown away by it, the cast and set were amazing. I had wondered how the boat scene would play out on stage, that along with the descent has to be my favourite scenes.

The 25th anniversary at the Royal Albert Hall has to be my second favourite – the production was immense. The lead actors were totally convincing and sang the songs extremely well. I also really enjoyed the end of the production, Andrew Lloyd Webber walked on to the stage to introduce the original cast. However the thing that gave it that extra bit of magic was when Sarah Brightman joined by some of the past Phantom’s sang ‘The Phantom of the Opera’.

The Phantom of the Opera has now become my favourite musical.