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Starring:
Jackie Clune, Layton Williams, Leon Cooke
Producer:
Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions
Writer:
Book & Lyrics by Lee Hall, Music by Sir Elton John
One of Britain's most successful films comes to the stage, with the story of the young Northern boy who is determined to dance at the Royal Ballet School - despite all the doubters. With music by Elton John.
A funny, heart-warming, feel-good celebration of one young boy's dream in a gripping tale of triumph over adversity.
This original story captured the hearts and minds of the world and the movie was nominated for 3 Oscars and 13 Bafta awards. This brilliant new staging is an adaptation of one of the most adored British films of the last decade. Also one of the most successful British films in recent times, Billy Elliot gets a stage makeover with music added by legendary tunester Sir Elton John.
Billy is born in a northern town where men box and work in the mines. They do not dance and they certainly do not harbour ambitions of attending the Royal Ballet School. But Billy is a bit different. Brought up by a single father, without a mother's touch, Billy does not want to fight, but is enthralled by the grace and wonder of ballet. With gritty determination he attempts to prove doubters wrong by going all the way.
Set in County Durham, against the backdrop of the coal miners' strike, which lasted twelve months in 1984-85, eleven-year-old Billy inadvertently finds his way into a girls' ballet class run by Mrs. Wilkinson and is attracted to the grace of the dance.
Without telling his family, who would prefer that he study boxing, Billy continues to come to the dance class, and Mrs. Wilkinson, recognising his talent, encourages him to audition for the Royal Ballet School in London. Billy's friend Michael is a boy with homosexual feelings, and Mrs. Wilkinson's daughter Debbie is another friend of Billy's.
Meanwhile Billy's gruff, conservative father and brother are engaged in a daily battle with policemen in riot gear protecting strike breakers. They struggle to get the family by with very little strike pay. Billy's father comes to terms with his son's desire to be a dancer, as he realises that coal mining is a dying business. The musical gives more emphasis to the miner's strike than the film, consequently the tone is darker and harder-edged than the film's, but the ending is uplifting nevertheless, and the musical has many comic touches.
Billy Elliot – The Musical reunites the team behind the award-wining 2000 film – director Stephen Daldry, writer Lee Hall, choreographer Peter Darling and producer Jon Finn – and adds to that the musical mastery of Sir Elton John, to turn the highly acclaimed film into an all-singing, all-dancing stage spectacular.
In a case of life-imitating-art-imitating-life, the boys who play Billy and his best friend came from over 3000 who attended open auditions, trying to realise their dream of performing in the West End. As a result, those who auditioned successfully and those who will replace them are trained at the newly opened Billy Elliot School, the only multi-discipline school of its kind in the North of England.
Please note that Billy Elliot contains language which some people might find offensive or unsuitable for children.
Childrens Notes
Due to strong language the producers ask parents to consider their younger children when booking.
Press Quotes
"The greatest British Musical I've ever seen" Charles Spencer, Daily Telegraph, "Funny, touching and shamelessly enjoyable" Paul Taylor, The Independent "A landmark in British theatre" Baz Bamigboye, Daily Mail
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