Billy Elliot

Revisit the heart warming story of Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace theatre and witness this famous plot retold with the help of great musical numbers. Since the original film version opened the world has been captivated by the story of the young male ballerina in the North East town. Young star Jamie Bell brought the character to life and landed himself on the worldwide map for young actors, going on to appear in a variety of top movies, including the Hollywood film Jumper (2008) alongside the Star Wars star Hayden Christensen.

It inspired the musical version, which subsequently opened at the Victoria Palace Theatre in 2005 and has been reaping the rewards since – critical acclaim, audience popularity and renewed interest in the original movie. And why wouldn’t it? After all it was taking a formula that already worked and combining it with the musical talents of Elton John. It provided a new dimension to the classic story originally penned by Lee Hall.

It is the England of 1984 when Billy Elliot opens on the stage, with Margaret Thatcher still in power and the miner’s strike in Northern England in full effect. It is a troublesome time, but Billy is introduced right in the middle of it. He is a boy from a humble background, with a father working as a miner and his brothers joining him in that profession. His father was once a boxer and wants Billy to follow in his footsteps, something that he had done with his own father. However, Billy has other ideas as he has just embarked into the world of ballet, something he is good at and enjoys thoroughly. At first he decides to keep this secret, fearful of how his father will react. However soon enough he realises his family are there for him, ultimately understanding the path he has chosen. So with this in mind he works hard, trying to win a coveted place at the Royal Ballet School.

The show looks set to continue for some time, and with audiences numbers only rising who knows how long this musical could stay in the West End? It’s even popular enough to create rumblings of a possible movie musical to follow it up. So witness this great musical, and enjoy the timeless story of Billy Elliot.

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