Billy Elliot the Musical celebrates five years in W/E
Story by Lizzie Guilfoyle
ON MARCH 31, 2010, Billy Elliot the Musical will celebrate its fifth birthday at the Victoria Palace Theatre with a special finale, choreographed for the occasion and featuring 19 Billy Elliots – past, present and future.
And on March 27, 2010, Rhys Yeomans (12 years old from Oldham, Lancashire) will join Dean-Charles Chapman (12 years old from Essex), Oliver Gardner (12 years old from Bath) and Tom Holland (13 years old from Kingston-upon-Thames) in alternating the role of Billy.
They will perform alongside principal cast members Joanna Riding (as Mrs Wilkinson), Joe Caffrey (Dad), Craig Gallivan (Tony), Ann Emery (Grandma), David Nellist (George), Sean Kingsley (Mr Braithwaite), Samantha Seager (Dead Mum) and Barnaby Meredith (Older Billy).
They will be joined by Connor Doyle (13 years old from Walsall), Connor Kelly (11 years old from Scunthorpe) and Jake Pratt (13 years old originally from Scarborough, now living in Middlesex) and, from April 26, by Joe Massey (10 years old from South Wirral), who will alternate the role of Billy’s best friend Michael; and Emily Smith (10 years old from County Durham), Fleur Houdijk (12 years old from Hartlepool) and Francesca Mango (10 years old from Northumberland) who alternate the role of Debbie.
Described as a funny, heart-warming and feel-good celebration of one young boy’s dreams and based on the international hit film, Billy Elliot the Musical is written by Lee Hall, directed by Stephen Daldry, has music by Elton John, choreography by Peter Darling, designs by Ian MacNeil, sound by Paul Arditti and lighting by Rick Fisher.
The critically acclaimed, internationally award-winning musical opened at the Victoria Palace Theatre in 2005 and has subsequently been seen by over 4.5 million people worldwide.
As well as the current London production, the show has been staged in Sydney and Melbourne, is currently performing at the Imperial Theater on Broadway and from March 18 will begin previews at the Oriental Theatre, Chicago.
Further productions are due to open in Korea in August 2010, Toronto in February 2011 and Japan in 2011. In addition a North American tour is expected to begin in November 2010 and productions are in the works for both Germany and Holland.
To celebrate five years in the West End, the producers of Billy Elliot the Musical launched Billy Youth Theatre, a new initiative providing schools and youth groups around the country with the opportunity to perform their own productions of a specially adapted version of the internationally award-winning show.
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Billy Elliot the Musical is currently booking at the Victoria Palace Theatre until December 18, 2010.
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