Earl Carpenter


Earl Carpenter is an English musical theatre actor and singer, recognised chiefly for his work in London’s West End. He is known for his performances as Inspector Javert in the stage musical Les Misérables and as the title character in The [Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)|The Phantom of the Opera], both roles he has played on and off for two decades. He is widely known for his rich, deep baritone singing voice.
In 1995, he made his West End debut as a Javert understudy in Les Misérables. In 2003, he became the standby for the role of The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera and two years later was promoted to the principal actor for the role replacing John Owen-Jones for two years before being replaced by Ramin Karimloo. In 2008, he returned to the West End production of Les Misérables as the principal Inspector Javert and also played the role a year later on the 25th Anniversary UK Tour. 2011 and 2012 saw Carpenter reprise his roles of both the Phantom and Inspector Javert in the West End productions of each show, he also played The Phantom in the 25th Anniversary UK Tour in 2012, replacing John Owen-Jones, who left the tour in September. In 2015, Carpenter returned to the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera in March as an emergency cover for the Phantom, he returned to Les Misérables two months later in the second Broadway revival reprising his role of Inspector Javert, he also played the role in 2013 and 2016 in new productions in Canada, the Philippines and Singapore. He understudied Michael Ball and Bradley Jaden when they played Javert in the 2019/2020/2021 West End concerts of Les Misérables as well as understudying the role in the 2021 UK/Ireland tour. He returned to his role of The Phantom in 2023 replacing Killian Donnelly for two months in the West End production before being replaced by Jon Robyns.
He had the part of The Bishop of Digne in Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary at the O2 Arena and in Les Misérables: The Staged Concert at the Gielgud Theatre and Sondheim Theatre. He also played the Auctioneer in The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall.
Carpenter played The Beast in the closing cast of the original West End production of Beauty and the Beast, he also played Joe Gillis and Gaston in the UK tours of Sunset Boulevard and Beauty and the Beast as well as Monsieur André in the Italian tour of The Phantom of the Opera. He is also known for his work in Ginger Boy Productions. In 2018, he funded and produced a production of Disney's Peter Pan Jnr at the Regent Centre in Christchurch, Dorset.
WWW Official Site

Training

Television

As part of the 25th anniversary of The Phantom of the Opera, Earl performed the title song at The Royal Variety Performance – held in The Lowry, Manchester – on Monday 5 December 2011. Performing alongside Nicole Scherzinger, Earl was joined by three other former Phantoms. The performance was aired on ITV1 on Wednesday 14 December 2011.

Stage credits

Other Theatre Credits

Between the Lines – Roger Flint – Palace Theatre, Westcliff-on-SeaWolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Mozart – Winter Gardens Theatre, BournemouthDick Whittington – King of Dreams / Sultan of Morocco – Theatre Royal, PlymouthHer Benny – Jazzer – Empire Theatre, LiverpoolJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Simeon – Thorndike Theatre, LeatherheadRobin Prince of Sherwood – King Richard / Will Scarlett / Robin Hood West Side Story – Riff – Winter Gardens, BournemouthThe Ultimate Illusion – Bournemouth Youth Theatre You, Me And Mrs Jones – Bournemouth Youth TheatreOklahoma – Poole Arts CentreMerchant of Venice – Jellicoe Theatre, BournemouthMeasure for Measure – Jellicoe Theatre, BournemouthThe Glass Menagerie – Tom – Jellicoe Theatre, BournemouthThe Dumb Waiter – Gus – Jellicoe Theatre, BournemouthJourney's End – Hibbert – Jellicoe Theatre, BournemouthLuther – Jellicoe Theatre, BournemouthThe Tempest – Prospero – Jellicoe Theatre, BournemouthJulius Caesar – Brutus – Jellicoe Theatre, BournemouthHitler Dances – Hans – Jellicoe Theatre, BournemouthTales From The Vienna Woods – Eric – Jellicoe Theatre, BournemouthBugsy Malone – Snake Eyes – Southampton Mountbatten TheatreHampshire Tales – Tom – Forest Forge Theatre CompanyMy Lady of Ellingham – Robert – Forest Forge Theatre CompanyThe Happiest Days of Your Life – Hopcroft Minor – Ringwood Musical and Dramatic Society

Concerts

Les Misérables: The Staged Concert - The Bishop of Digne/Bamatabois, u/s Javert - Gielgud Theatre/Sondheim TheatreThree Phantoms – UK, Scandinavia, Macau, China and SingaporeThe Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall – The Auctioneer – Royal Albert HallLes Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary – The Bishop of Digne – The O2Last Night of the Christmas Proms 2007 – Portsmouth Guildhall, Southampton Guildhall, Exeter Great Hall, Poole LighthouseChristmas at the Musicals – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow and NottinghamHot Summer Classics – Wilton House, SalisburyLast Night of the BSO Proms – Portchester Castle, Fareham and Upton House, PooleEncore – Buxton Opera HouseLast Night of the Christmas Proms 2006 – Southampton Guildhall, Bristol Colston Hall, Poole Lighthouse, Portsmouth Guildhall, Exeter Great HallEncore – Madinat Jumeirah, DubaiWest End at Home – Mayflower Theatre, Southampton and Lighthouse PooleSummer Showstoppers – Osborne House, Isle of WightLast Night of the Christmas Proms 2005 – Portsmouth Guildhall, Bristol Colston Hall, Poole Lighthouse, Exeter Great HallOne Enchanted Evening – Weymouth Pavilion, Southampton Guildhall, Bournemouth PavilionThe Best of the West End – Buxton Opera HouseLive and Let Die – Meyrick Park, BournemouthThe Last Night of the Christmas Proms 2004 – Portsmouth Guildhall, Poole Lighthouse, Southampton Guildhall, Exeter Great Hall, Bristol Colston HallLes Misérables in Concert – Windsor Castle Entente Cordiale CelebrationChess in Concert- The Russian – Bournemouth International CentreLes Misérables in Concert – Courfeyrac – Bournemouth International CentreLes Misérables in Concert – Hylands Park, Chelmsford
  • Closing Ceremony of Euro '96 – Wembley Stadium

Film

From the Diaries of Jojo the Dog Faced BoyLes Misérables in Concert: The 25th AnniversaryThe Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall

Recordings

Association with theatre industry organisations

He has been creative producer and owner of Ginger Boy Productions Limited since 2006; patron and associate artist to the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton and as has recently accepted a visiting professorship at Solent University.