Peter was born in Bridgend in S. Wales. His first success was as the lead
singer in the band Peter and The Wolves, which opened concerts for bands
and singers such as The Rolling Stones and Tom Jones. Peter toured the UK
as a singer, and then went to London falling on hard times, busking and sleeping
rough until he got his part in a show.
Since then Peter Karrie’s voice has been showcased in many
of the greatest theatrical successes in contemporary musical theatre, the
highlight of which must be his highly acclaimed portrayal of The Phantom
in Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking sensation The Phantom
of The Opera.
Peter first played the Phantom at London’s her Majesty’s
Theatre, and he went on to play the role in Toronto, Singapore, Hong Kong
and Vancouver.
His performances have been described as “definitive” and
have earned him the title of “The World’s Most Popular Phantom,” pushing
Michael Crawford into third place. Such is Peter’s unforgettable impact as The Phantom, Lord
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Macintosh have continually asked him to
return. He has been the most acclaimed performer in this role and his performances
are breathtaking.
Peter originated the Che role for the first national tour of the
UK of Evita. He performed the exhausting role of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables
for more than three and a half years at London’s Palace Theatre. He
also appeared as Valjean in front of 10,000 people at a Cardiff Castle
open-air concert.
Likewise Peter has also gained international recognition for his
other west End roles, such as The American Freddy Trumper in Chess, Angelo
in Fire Angel, James Dean in Dean and Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar.
He created the role of John Blackthrone in Shogun and was widely
acclaimed in a run as Daddy Warbucks in Annie .
His most recent successes were as the fire-and-brimstone preacher
Reverend Peter Price in the sensational new musical Amazing Grace and the
new production of Oliver! In February 2006 he performed, once again to great critical acclaim,
as Don Quixote in the very demanding and complex musical Man of La Mancha
at Cork Opera House.
In July 2006 he appeared in The Three
Phantoms at The Wales Millennium Centre, in August he played ‘Tevye’ in Fiddler on the Roof
and due to last year’s outstanding success of Amazing Grace,
he will be returning in October to the bible-basking character of the Reverend
Peter Price.
In addition to his stage performances,
Peter has recorded several TV and Radio series and has three CD’s on general release – ‘Theatrically
Yours’, - ‘Peter Karrie – Unmasked’ (live recordings
taken from his highly successful BBC TV Chat Show series) and his latest
release ‘The Impossible Dream’.
Peter has also created the roles of Darcy on the concept recordings
of Pride and Prejudice, Nosferatu on Nosferatu, the Vampire and Don John
on Much Ado, all by Bernard Taylor.
Peter also tours with his shows: Peter
Karrie Unmasked, Peter
Karrie and Friends and Peter Karrie’s West End Stars have played
to standing ovations at theatres across the world.
Peter’s most recent concert tour was as both principal and
producer in the much-acclaimed production of West End Stars – In
Concert, which toured Ireland and the UK to enthusiastic reviews.
It has maintained a 100% record of standing ovations wherever it
has appeared.
In addition to his performing Peter has written two musicals entitled
“Rasputin” and “Ain’t Dead Yet” and
a book entitled “The Boy Alex” which currently in adaptation
for a children’s cartoon series.
Career Highlights
2006 – Peter Price in Amazing
Grace; Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof; The
Three Phantoms; Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha. 2005 - West End Stars tour of Ireland; Peter
Price in Amazing Grace;
Fagin in a new Cameron Macintosh production of Oliver!. 2004 - UK Tour of Peter Karrie and Friends. 2003 - Daddy Warbucks in
Annie. 2002 - TV series “Young At Heart.” 2001 - Tour of Peter Karrie Unmasked in UK and
Canada; Fly-on- The-Wall
documentary “Karrie on Karrie” for TV; Radio series “Carry
on Karrie”. 2000 - Played the role of The Phantom
in the prestigious Millennium
Tour of Phantom of the Opera. Known as The World’s
Most Popular Phantom. Highly
acclaimed TV series “Peter Karrie Unmasked”. 1999 - Beyond The
Mask tour of The Far East, S. Africa and the UK.
1998 – 1996 played the
role of The Phantom in Toronto and Vancouver.
1995 - played
the role of The Phantom in Hong Kong and Singapore. 1994 - played the role
of The Phantom in London and Toronto. 1993 - played Jean Valjean
in Les Miserables 1992 - played The
Phantom in Toronto. 1991 - played The Phantom
in London; opened as John Blackthrone
in Shogun in New York. 1990 – 1997 performed as Jean
Valjean in Les Miserables in London
1986 - played
the American in Chess in London 1986 – 1983 played Che Guevara
in Evita in London
1980 – 1978 played
Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar in London.