Kilmessan's Killian dons the Phantom’s mask as West End musical opens

London theatres reopen after pandemic shutdown

Tonight (Tuesday) sees Kilmessan singer and actor Killian Donnelly taking to the stage in London's West End, in the opening night of 'The Phantom of the Opera' musical.

Best known most recently for his roles in ‘Les Miserables’, including the lead role of Jean Valjean, he has previously played Raoul in Phantom, in Her Majesty’s Theatre.

This time he is returning to the same stage in the lead role of the masked phantom.

Donnelly, who went to school in Dunshaughlin Community College, and is a protege of St Mary's Musical Society in Navan, is regarded as one of the hardest working actors in the West End, and has played almost every theatre in London in various shows from Roddy Doyle's 'The Commitments' to 'Memphis the Musical'.

As a youngster in 1996, he took part in a production of the musical ‘Oliver’, staged by the pupils of Kilmessan NS, as Fagin - Patrick Maguire played Oliver. A decade later, Killian was on stage in Dublin, with Suzanne McFadden in the Gaiety’s ‘Cinderella’ panto, and then in ‘Sweeney Todd’ at the Gate, as well as plying his trade with SMMS in Navan, writing and performing, and asking ‘Would you like fries with that?’ in a McDonalds’ advertisement. He went to London, where he played every role in ‘Les Miserables’ as a swing actor, moved onto ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ as one of the three leads, then to ‘Billy Elliott’, where apparently, his ass became an internet sensation for a while, before moving to ‘The Commitments’. He also had a part in the movie version of ‘Les Miserables’.

Donnelly originated the role of Charlie Price in Kinky Boots on the West End, a role for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award, and later played the role on Broadway.

Following the pandemic shutdown of theatres, The Phantom of the Opera opens at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

Lucy St Louis will play Christine Daaé, previously playing Diana Ross in ‘Motown The Musical’ at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Rhys Whitfield will play Raoul, with West End credits including ‘Summer and Smoke’ and ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’.

The Phantom of the Opera sees a half-masked Phantom grow obsessed with Christine, a young soprano at Paris Opera House. The musical made its West End premiere at Her Majesty’s Theatre in 1986, where it has enjoyed a continuous run ever since and is the second-longest running musical in London. Killian previously played Raoul.