The Phantom of the Opera is set to close in the West End after 34 years due to the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical has been running at Her Majesty's Theatre since 1986.

Producer Cameron Mackintosh wrote in the Evening Standard that the London production has been ‘permanently shut down’ because of the ongoing restrictions on theatres.

Mackintosh is also the producer for hits Hamilton and Les Miserables.

He wrote: "When Covid hit, all my eight theatres were packed with hit shows including some of my own. 

"So as by far the largest independent employer in the West End it is not surprising that as both theatre owner and producer, with no outside investors, I’ve taken a huge financial hit. 

“On top of this, Andrew and I have had to sadly permanently shut down our London and UK touring productions of The Phantom of the Opera, but are determined to bring it back to London in the future.”

Mackintosh is remaining optimistic that his productions can start again by Easter next year.

He added: “I’m still hopeful that by Easter next year most of my productions and some of our theatres can reopen, so I can start re-employing most of the staff I’ve had to let go. But we’d need to reopen our box offices in November.

"If the Government is unable to support this, we’re likely to have to push back our reopening to next summer, causing further devastating losses to both the theatre industry and London’s economy.”