The Phantom of the Opera has been seen in 110 cities

The continued success of the show comes 17 years after it first opened, and a big screen version is expected to start filming later this year.

The 7,000 performances have been racked up at Her Majesty's Theatre in London over 6,152 days.

It was an immediate hit when it opened on 9 October 1986, when it starred Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman.

Since then, the musical has been seen by 70 million people in 110 cities around the world from Australia to Mexico.

PHANTOM WEST END FACTS 220 staff needed Ballet girls used 10,000 pairs of shoes Two million ice creams eaten 1,033 tons of dry ice used 84,000 pain killers taken But The Mousetrap has had more than 20,000 performances

Producers say it has made more money than any other stage show or film in history.

It has won more than 50 major theatre awards and is currently playing in Germany, Spain, Hungary and the United States.

In London, one member of the orchestra, cellist Robert Norris, has played in 6,954 of the performances.

The big screen version, directed by Phone Booth's Joel Schumacher, is expected to be released next year.

A relative unknown, Scottish actor Gerard Butler, will play the Phantom.