Anne Rogers withdraws from Billy Elliot

Anne Rogers withdraws from Billy Elliot

Anne Rogers has withdrawn from the role of 'Grandma' in Billy Elliot : The Musical, which has its stage premiere at the Victoria Palace 11 May 2005, following previews from 24 March 2005.

A statement says, "By mutual agreement Anne Rogers has left Stephen Daldry's production of Billy Elliot. As rehearsals progressed the role of Grandma changed considerably leading to Ms Rogers' departure from the production."

Her replacement has not yet been officially announced, but Ann Emery (star of BBC Children's series Rentaghost and sister of comedian Dick Emery) is reported to have stepped in to the part

The cast is: Haydn Gwyyn (Mrs Wilkinson), Tim Healey (Dad), ? (Grandma), Joe Caffrey (Tony), Steve Elias (Mr Braithwaite), Trevor Fox (George), Stephanie Putson (Mum). As previously announced Billy will be performed by James Lomas (14) from Sheffield, George Maguire (13) from Essex and Liam Mower (12) from Hull, who will alternate playing the title role during the run. Joining them will be Tyneside born Brooke Havana Bailey, Emma Hudson and Lucy Stephenson, playing Debbie - Mrs Wilkinson's daughter, and Brad Kavanagh from Cumbria, Ashley Lloyd from Blackpool and Ryan Longbottom from Dewsbury, playing Michael - Billy's best friend.

The Company also includes Daniel Coll, Erica Ann Deakin, Alex Delamere, Damien Delaney, Susan Fay, Alan Forrester, Isaac James, Gillian Kirkpatrick, Chris Lennon, David Massey, Michelle McAvoy, Karl Morgan, Daniel Page, Steve Paget, Lee Proud, Mike Scott, Phil Snowden and Tessa Worsley.

Billy Elliot : The Musical is produced by Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan co-Chairmen of Working Title Films and theatre impresario Sally Greene, from Old Vic Productions along with Jon Finn.

The show has Book & Lyrics by Lee Hall & Music by Elton John. It is directed by Stephen Daldry, designed by Ian MacNeil, lighting by Rick Fisher, costumes by Nicky Gillibrand and choreography by Peter Darling .

Billy Elliot is the story of a boy from a humble Tyneside background, whose mother is dead, and whose father and brother are caught up in the bitterly fought community-splitting miner's strike of 1984. Billy's father wants his son to learn to box, like him and his father before him. But instead Billy becomes fascinated by the grace and magic of ballet. BILLY ELLIOT is about Billy's gritty and determined struggle, at first in secret, but then with the wholehearted backing of his family, to dance his way to the brightest of futures by winning a place at the Royal Ballet School.