Sally Dexter & Sara Poyzer to join cast of Billy Elliot

Sally Dexter & Sara Poyzer to join cast of Billy Elliot

Sally Dexter & Sara Poyzer are to join the cast Billy Elliot : The Musical on Mon 5 June 2006 as Mrs Wilkinson & Billy's Mum, at the Victoria Palace Theatre

Sally Dexter's London stage credits include: "Theatre of Blood" at the Lyttelton, NT in 2005; "The Old Masters" at the Comedy in 2004; "Nacbeth" at the Queens in 1999; "Closer" at the National Theatre in 1997.

Sara Poyzer is making her West End stage debut.

Also joining the cast on 5 June are Leyci Wightman who joins as a new Debbie, Shaun Malone as a new Michael, plus a new team of ballet girls who make up Mrs Wilkinson's Dance Class.

My name is Leyci Wightman and I am ten years old. I live in South Shields, Newcastle, with my Mum Vikki and my dog called Jack and my cat Unlinkcalled Lilo. I have been singing and dancing since the age of two and attend Valerie Shepherds Dance Academy, David Ducasse Stage School and Collette Powell Singing School. I'm really looking forward to my time in Billy Elliot the Musical.

My name is Shaun Malone and I am 11 years old. I am from Stretford, Manchester where I live with my Mum Julie, my Dad Tom, and my two brothers and sister, Tom, Lee and Vanessa. I started dancing at the age of 7 and attend Centre Point, a dancing school in Manchester. I also attend St. Annes Primary School. Billy Elliot the Musical will be my first professional show although I have performed in dancing competitions.

The current cast includes Philip Whitchurch (Dad), Chris Lennon (Tony), Ann Emery (Grandma), Paul Broughton (George), Alex Delamere (Mr Braithwaite), Isaac James (Older Billy). Colin Bates, Leon Cooke, Matthew Koon, Liam Mower, Travis Yates alternate the title role of Billy Elliot.

Billy Elliot : The Musical opened 11 May 2005, following previews from 31 March, to terrific notices from the popular press: MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "Billy Elliot succeeds brilliantly because Elton John's music and, especially, Peter Darling's choreography enhance Lee Hall's cinematic concept." CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "Billy Elliot strikes me as the greatest British musical I have ever seen." ALASTAIR MACAULAY for THE FINANCIAL TIMES says, "Elton John's music is too often formulaic but about half of this show achieves dramatic poetry of a kind rare in any kind of theatre."PAUL TAYLOR for THE INDEPENDENT says, "Funny, touching and shamelessly enjoyable staging."

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, choreography by Peter Darling, sound by Paul Arditti. 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.

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.