A Beauty and the Beast musical star says he is honoured to play the role of Gaston, a character brought to life by a young Hugh Jackman in the original Australian production.

Jackson Head and the rest of the stellar cast, including Perth’s Shubshri Kandiah as Belle, took to the Crown Theatre stage on Thursday night for the musical’s debut WA performance.

The Brisbane actor channels his inner villain as Gaston, an arrogant and ruthless hunter whose unrequited feelings for Belle make him want to kill the Beast once he learns she loves him instead.

It was the role a young Hugh Jackman played in the original show, which opened in 1995 and also starred Rachael Beck, Michael Cormick and the late Bert Newton.

“It’s incredible, Hugh is amazing,” he said.

“WA’s own (acting product), very cool,

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