Billy Elliot celebrates three years in the West End
Story by Lizzie Guilfoyle
ON MAY 12, 2008, Elton John and Lee Hall’s multi award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical will celebrate its third birthday in the West End.
The stage adaptation of the record-breaking film opened at the Victoria Palace Theatre in May 2005 and has subsequently been seen by over 2 million people worldwide. The London production is currently booking until April 11, 2009.
To celebrate the show’s third birthday, the London Company will be joined on stage in ‘a spectacular finale’ by the three boys who are to play Billy in the Broadway production, which opens at the Imperial Theatre on November 13, 2008 (previews from October 1).
Announced only yesterday (April 22) at a launch in New York attended by the show’s director Stephen Daldry, composer Elton John, writer Lee Hall, choreographer Peter Darling and producer Eric Fellner, the young actors are Montreal born David Alvarez (13), Trent Kowalik (13) from New York, and Kiril Kulish (14) from San Diego .
The Australian production premiered at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in December last year.
Billy Elliot the Musical is set in the North East of England and is a funny, heart-warming and feel-good celebration of one young boy’s dreams. It received its world premiere at the Victoria Palace Theatre in 2005 when James Lomas, George Maguire and Liam Mower created the role of 11 year old Billy. Since then, 14 boys have performed the title role in London following in the footsteps of Jamie Bell who created Billy on film.
The current Billy Elliots are Layton Williams (14) from Manchester; Corey Snide (14) from Albany, New York; and Joshua Fedrick (13) from Saltash, Cornwall. They perform alongside Jackie Clune (Mrs Wilkinson), James Gaddas (Dad), Chris Lennon (Tony), Ann Emery (Grandma), Trevor Fox (George), Alex Delamere (Mr Braithwaite), Sara Poyzer (Mum) and Barnaby Meredith (Older Billy).
Billy Elliot the Musical is produced in London by Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions plc. Designs are by Ian MacNeil, with sound by Paul Arditti and lighting by Rick Fisher.