 In London's West End, he understudied and played the role of Firmin in "The Phantom of the Opera" and played the Pope in "Which Witch".Ayldon was a guest artist with the revived D'Oyly Carte Opera Company on its tour to California and toured with such Gilbert and Sullivan concert groups as "The Magic of D'Oyly Carte" and "The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan".John Ayldon was born as John Arnold in London.