Billy Elliot : The Musical, delays previews to 31 March 2005 at the Victoria Palace Theatre

Billy Elliot : The Musical, delays previews to 31 March 2005 at the Victoria Palace Theatre

Billy Elliot : The Musical, has delayed previews for one week at the Victoria Palace theatre to 31 March 2005.

The show was to begin previewing from 24 March, but will now begin on 31 March 2005, with an opening night of 12 May 2005, although press night is on 11 May. (Traditionally opening night and press night are normally the same night!!) Also new is that the preview performances are staggered with previews from Wednesday or Thursday to Saturdays up to 9 May 2005, when the fixed days of Mon - Sat will begin.

Stephen Daldry, Director of Billy Elliot The Musical, said: "This is one of the most ambitious projects I have been involved with. The decision has been made to push back our preview performances in order to give our Company, with a cast including 45 children, a little extra time so they are as fully prepared as possible. The young Billy Elliots in particular -James Lomas (15), George Maguire (14) and Liam Mower (12) - making their professional stage debuts in the West End will benefit from a little extra time to familiarise themselves with all aspects of the production."

The cast is: Haydn Gwyyn (Mrs Wilkinson), Tim Healey (Dad), Anne Emery (Grandma), Joe Caffrey (Tony), Steve Elias (Mr Braithwaite), Trevor Fox (George), Stephanie Putson (Mum). As previously announced Billy will be performed by James Lomas from Sheffield, George Maguire from Essex and Liam Mower 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.

 


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