A guide to all the songs in 'Billy Elliot the Musical'

Get to know Elton John's electrifying score as the beloved British musical returns to London in 2027, playing at the Adelphi Theatre.

Summary

• Billy Elliot the Musical is returning to London in 2027
• The show plays at the Adelphi Theatre in the West End
• It follows wannabe dancer Billy and is set during the miners' strike
• Learn about the amazing songs by Elton John

Billy Elliot is back! The remarkable British musical, adapted from an equally beloved British movie, is returning to the West End in 2027 a decade after it was last seen in London, playing at the Adelphi Theatre. The story follows young Billy, who dreams of becoming a dancer, but faces considerable opposition. That struggle is set against another one: the 1980s miners’ strike.

The show features book and lyrics by Lee Hall (who also wrote the film’s screenplay) and music by none other than pop legend Elton John. The latter also has an impressive track record in musical theatre, with shows including The Lion King, Aida, and The Devil Wears Prada. Learn all about the show’s songs ahead of your Billy Elliot trip.

Book Billy Elliot the Musical tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

“The Stars Look Down”

The opening number introduces the audience to the show’s febrile setting: County Durham, during the 1984-85 coal miners’ strike. This stirring song lays out the proud history of the pits, and the worker solidarity and socialist values that they’re fighting for through the strike. Meanwhile young Billy is preparing to head to his boxing class.

“Shine”

Never mind boxing: here come Mrs Wilkinson and her girls as Billy stumbles into his first dance class. It’s chaotic and funny with plenty of cross-talk, building to Mrs Wilkinson laying out her showbiz philosophy: it doesn’t matter if “your life’s a mess” – all you have to do is shine in that moment on stage. It’s also an awakening for Billy.

“Grandma’s Song”

Motherless Billy has a close relationship with his grandmother. In this wry, sweet song, she recalls how her late husband was a “sod” who drank too much and never lifted a finger, but they had blissful moments when they went out dancing together. It adds more emotional heft to Billy’s new love of dance.

“Solidarity”

The two main plotlines merge in this compelling number: Billy joins the dance class properly – though in secret – while the striking miners clash with police, singing their battle cry of “Solidarity forever”. Both plots rise in fever pitch: warfare on the picket lines, while Billy gets in trouble when his dad Jackie finds out he ditched boxing.

“Expressing Yourself”

Mrs Wilkinson suggests that Billy should audition for the Royal Ballet School, but he’s unsure. He visits his friend Michael – and finds him wearing a dress. In this lovely number, Michael encourages Billy to find liberation in being himself, no matter what anyone else thinks.

“The Letter (Mum’s Letter)”

Get the tissues out… In this extraordinarily touching number, Billy prepares his audition dance by taking inspiration from a letter his late mum wrote to him. “And I will have missed you growing / And I’ll have missed you crying / And I’ll have missed you laugh”, she writes, “But please, Billy / Know that I was always there / I was with you through everything”.

“Born to Boogie”

Billy and Mrs Wilkinson celebrate their shared love of dance in this uplifting song as they develop a fantastic routine for his audition. It’s the kind of number that makes you want to get up and join them – or at least to boogie in your seat.

“Angry Dance”

Everything goes wrong as Act I comes to a dramatic head: the strike is devastating, Billy’s brother Tony gets injured by the police, and Billy misses his audition. Mrs Wilkinson reveals to his family that she’s been teaching him, leading to a fiery confrontation. Billy escapes this melée and expresses all his fury and frustration in a blistering dance.

“Merry Christmas, Maggie Thacher” / “Deep Into the Ground”

Act II opens six months later, with the mining community’s bitingly bleak Christmas show. The kids sing an ironic Merry Christmas to the Prime Minister, their bitter enemy, while Billy’s grief-stricken dad drinks too much and winds up singing a folk song that reduces him to tears.

“Swan Lake”

Billy, who has stopped dancing, finds he cannot quit this dream. He fantasises about becoming a real professional dancer as the music from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake plays, beckoning him back to ballet. His father sees him dancing and, in a emotional moment, realises he has to support his son.

“He Could Be A Star”

Jackie has to raise money to send Billy to his audition in London, and makes the difficult decision to cross the picket line – to Tony’s horror. The pair have it out in in this fraught duet, with Tony arguing that they have a duty to their mining community, while Jackie sings of Billy “We’ve got the chance to let him live”. Their fellow miners all step up and donate to help Billy.

“Electricity”

A very nervous Billy arrives at the Royal Ballet School and feels out of place among the posh kids. After feeling he messed up his audition, he punches another boy. The audition committee reprimand him, but give him one more chance: they ask him how he feels when he dances. Billy answers in this spine-tingling song, expressing the joy and liberation of dancing.

“Once We Were Kings”

In a bittersweet conclusion to the story, Billy does get accepted to the Royal Ballet School, but the strike is broken. The miners return to work, still supporting one another, but understanding that their status has been lost forever.

“The Letter (Billy’s Reply)”

In a touching bookend, we get a reprise of the letter song, but this time Billy writes a response to his mum. He tells her that he loves her, that he’ll make her proud, and he says goodbye.

“Finale”

The show ends in beautiful ensemble fashion, reflecting the community and solidarity we have seen throughout. The whole cast celebrates Billy’s bright future by singing once again that all you have to do is shine – and express yourself. We need individuality.

Book Billy Elliot the Musical tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Main photo credit: William Gurney, Spencer Collins, Elton John, Noah Mannion, and Rafferty Smale (Photo by Justine Matthew). Inset: Billy Elliot the Musical (Photos by Alastair Muir)