Get your dancing shoes on and boogie on down to Billy Elliott The Musical at London’s Victoria Palace Theatre, before it’s recently announced final performance on April 9, 2016. The show is based on the hit British film of the same name, which was released in 2000, starring Jamie Bell as 11 year old Billy, who wants to swop his boxing lessons for ballet classes, much to the horror of his coal-miner dad.
The film depicts what it was like to grow up in Northern England in the 1980’s, against the backdrop of the miners’ strikes and political unrest. Billy Elliot won the Best Film category at both the BAFTA’s and BIFA’s (British Independent Film Awards); and was also nominated for Oscars and Golden Globes. The stage version of Billy Elliott is also award-winning, with 10 Tony Awards to its name, taking home the title of Best Musical, and 4 Olivier Awards under its belt, including Best New Musical.
Since it opened in 2005, there have been spin-off productions around the world, and it’s estimated that over 5 million UK theatregoers and nearly 11 million people worldwide have seen the show, which features a score by none other than Sir Elton John. To date, 83 boys have played the title role, including Jamie Bell; and it’s even coined the phrase “the Billy Elliott effect” to describe the upsurge in boys learning ballet, when more boys than girls attended The Royal Ballet School in 2014.
Anyone that can’t get down to London to see the show – don’t worry: the show’s first UK-bound tour is due to run from February 2016 until March 2017, and will visit regional theatres around the country, as well as Ireland. A full list of tour dates can be found here. Tickets for the London show can be bought via the theatre’s website, or by calling the box office on 0844 248 5000. Here’s the show’s official trailer.
#Peace.Love.BillyElliot
