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Billy Elliot The Musical

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

13 December 2008 - 14 June, 2009
Her Majesty's Theatre
219 Exhibition St, Melbourne

You may recall a period at the beginning of this decade when hearts and minds were being captured across the world. The reason for this feel-good pandemic, experts quickly deduced, was Billy Elliot. The enchanting British film set box offices ablaze, earned a swag of BAFTAs and several Oscar nominations, and had kids of all ages putting down their Pokemons and strapping on their tap shoes.

It tells the story of Billy Elliot, a young boy growing up in the northeast corner of Thatcher's England. It's 1984, and while his family is preoccupied with the miner's strikes, Billy discovers the love of dance when he stumbles across a ballet class at the same hall he takes his dreaded boxing lessons. It is something he takes to with an unrelenting passion, much to the chagrin of his father and brother.

In 2005, the team behind the film, director Stephen Daldry and writer Lee Hall, reworked the story into a stage musical. In composing the score, Hall collaborated with music legend Elton John, creating a spectacular show which repeated its award-winning, box office-breaking streak in the UK, and still continues to play to packed houses at London's Victoria Palace Theatre.

The good news for Australian audiences is this: Billy has shimmied his way down here to recreate the magic in an Australian production. Among the cast of 75 are such stage luminaries as Genevieve Lemon, playing dance teacher Mrs Wilkinson, and Richard Piper as Billy's father. But the show is stolen by the boys who play the lad himself, a role which is alternated between four bright young talents: Lochlan Denholm, Rarmian Newton, Rhys Kosakowski and Nick Twiney. Billy Elliot the Musical is a show that will warm your heart, well up your eyes and get you in the mood to boogie.

Kilian David

Click here to book tickets.

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