Daring to be different in a traditional country town can come at a cost, but it didn’t bother Lyle much.
“I had such a supportive community of people,” he says. “And, also, I don’t think anyone gave me any shit because I was six foot – so much taller than everyone else. I don’t think anyone dared.”
Earlier this year, after attending the Queensland Conservatorium, he sent an audition tape for Opera Australia’s Phantom production. It’s a show he’s loved ever since first seeing it on DVD in year 8.
“I watched it on repeat and then sang The Music of the Night all through high school,” he says.
The audition was for a place in the ensemble. Then there were several callbacks.
“Finally, they asked me to fly to Sydney and I was like, ‘this is getting pretty serious’,” he says.
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He was paired in the rehearsal room with soprano Amy Manford, who will sing Christine Daae.
“Actually, I thought I’d bombed the audition,” he says. “I was sitting there anxiously waiting and I just thought [I’d be selected for] ensemble or maybe cover.
“When I finally got told, I just blanked out. I just could not believe it and it still hasn’t sunk in talking about it. I feel like I’m talking about someone else. It’s actually crazy.”
Along with West Australian Manford, who will sing the female lead in her fourth Phantom and has also performed several times for King Charles, Lyle will be joined by Jarrod Draper in the key role of Raoul.
Brought up in Orange, Wiradjuri man Draper comes from footy royalty – his father Brad is a former Roosters hooker. And just like Lyle, it was all sport when Draper was growing up.
‘My folks always instilled great morals and values in me and my Aboriginality has always been something that’s been at the forefront.’
Jarrod Draper
Also like Lyle, his first introduction to the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber was via the small screen.
“I stayed home from school on day on a sick day and turned on the TV and Love Never Dies [the sequel to Phantom] happened to be on with the wonderful Ben Lewis, who has sadly just passed away.
“Watching him sing those songs with that mask on changed my life. I fell down the rabbit hole. That’s where I started with Phantom and I’ve been listening to and singing the music ever since.”
Growing up in sports-mad Central West with a passion for musical theatre was never going to be easy, but Draper made it through with the help of a hugely supportive family.
“The world was a bit different back then, with people labelling you things you don’t even know about yourself,” he says. “You have to grow up really quickly. But I wouldn’t change it. Even though it was kind of excruciating at the time, it wouldn’t have landed me where I am now.
And his culture is front and centre in his performing life.
“My folks always instilled great morals and values in me and my Aboriginality has always been something that’s been at the forefront,” he says. “People of colour I think have this innate ability to tell stories. I’ve drawn upon that a lot.”
A graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Draper most recently starred in the 40th Australian anniversary production of Cats.
He was in Perth when he heard he had landed the plum role of Raoul about two weeks ago.
“With the time difference I was still in bed and I woke up to the news,” he says. “It’s huge. It’s one of the bucket-list dream shows for me.”
Phantom of the Opera on Sydney Harbour opens on March 27.
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