Ben Forster | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1981-04-24)24 April 1981 (age 44) |
| Origin | Sunderland, England |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer, songwriter |
Benjamin Edward Forster (born 24 April 1981) is a British actor and singer who won ITV'sSuperstar competition in 2012.[1] As a result, Forster played the lead role ofJesus in the revival ofAndrew Lloyd Webber's rock operaJesus Christ Superstar in its 2012 arena tour.[2][3][4][5] Forster returned to the role at the end of May to tour Australia through 2013.
Forster would later play the title character in Lloyd Webber'smusical adaptation ofThe Phantom of the Opera.
Before his success in theSuperstar competition, Forster played the role of Doody inGrease and was involved inThriller – Live in 2009.[6]Singer/songwriter Forster is based in London and performs nationally and internationally. Originally from Sunderland, he was a child singer and actor who won a scholarship at the prestigiousItalia Conti Academy in London at 16.
During his training, he was heavily featured in the BBC's prime time fly-on-the-wall documentaryThe Dream Academy which aired to over 3 million people. The Broccoli family (ofJames Bond fame) staged the musicalLa Cava in London the same year, and Forster won a role, to make his West End debut in the production. He then went on to another lead singer role inLennon and McCartney's West End musicalAll You Need Is Love. It was during the run of this show that the 20-year-old Forster began songwriting. He then began a solo singing career and signed a record deal with an independent label. He wrote and produced his first ten-song live album, but the recording company declared bankruptcy and Forster's solo musical ambitions were put on hold.
After finishing the 2012 arena tour ofJesus Christ Superstar, Forster went on to play the role of Brad Majors in the 40th anniversary tour ofThe Rocky Horror Show,[7] alongsideRoxanne Pallett,Rhydian,Kristian Lavercombe andOliver Thornton.
Forster was to reprise the role of Jesus for the North American tour ofJCS, joining other recording artists that includedIncubus'Brandon Boyd asJudas Iscariot,Destiny's Child'sMichelle Williams asMary Magdalene,'N Sync'sJC Chasez asPontius Pilate, andPublic Image Ltd'sJohn Lydon as King Herod.[8] The North American tour was cancelled on 30 May 2014.[9]
In 2013–14 Forster performed the role of Magaldi in the West End production ofEvita in the Dominion Theatre. In October 2015, Forster reprised the role of Buddy inElf: The Musical at theDominion Theatre, a role which he originated in the UK première in 2014 in Plymouth. The show ran until January 2016. In 2016 Forster has been portraying the role ofThe Phantom in London'sThe Phantom of the Opera. On 6 January 2018, while performing inElf the Musical, Forster came down off a ladder mid-performance causing the show to stop immediately. It was later revealed that he had broken his ankle in the process,[10] and would not finish his run with the show.[11]
On 30 November 2023, Forster performed "Tell Me It's Not True" withMelanie C at that year'sRoyal Variety Performance, held at the Royal Albert Hall. The show was televised on 17 December 2023.[12][13]
On April 4th 2025, Forster announced his return to the role of The Phantom in The World Tour production ofThe Phantom of The Opera for a limited engagement in Singapore.
| Year(s) | Production | Role | Theatre | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–2001 | La Cava | Ensemble | Piccadilly Theatre | West End |
| 2001–2002 | All You Need is Love | John Lennon | Arts Theatre | |
| 2007–2009 | Grease | Doody | Piccadilly Theatre | |
| 2009–2010 | Thriller - Live | Ensemble | Lyric Theatre | |
| 2012–2014 | Jesus Christ Superstar | Jesus Christ | — | UK Arena Tour |
| 2014 | — | North American Arena Tour | ||
| 2014 | Elf: The Musical | Buddy the Elf | Theatre Royal | Plymouth |
| 2014–2015 | Evita | Agustín Magaldi | Dominion Theatre | West End |
| 2015 | The Rocky Horror Show | Brad Majors | — | UK National Tour |
| 2015–2016 | Elf: The Musical | Buddy the Elf | Dominion Theatre | West End |
| 2016–2017 | The Phantom of The Opera | The Phantom of the Opera | Her Majesty's Theatre | |
| 2018 | Elf: The Musical | Buddy the Elf | The Lowry | Salford |
| 2020 | The Phantom of The Opera | The Phantom of the Opera | Christmas Theater | Greece |
| 2024 | Phantom of the Opera | Tokyu Theatre Orb | Japan | |
| 2025 | The Phantom of The Opera | Singapore | World Tour |
Forster released his first albumAcoustic Covers in 2012. The album includes acoustic covers of well-known songs from artists likeMichael Jackson andMaroon 5.[6] In 2013 he released Acoustic Covers Vol.2.[14] It was co-produced by Ben Forster andNik Carter and mixed by Jack Birchwood. It featured Luke Higgins on acoustic guitar and Robert Eckland on piano.
In December 2014 he released a double album – together with fellow musical theatre starsLouise Dearman andKerry Ellis – of Alexander S. Bermange's three-person musicalThe Route To Happiness. This was made available as a deluxe 2-CD set and to download.
