Opened: March 31, 2005
Book & Lyrics by: Lee Hall
Music by: Elton John
West End Replacement Cast: Elliott Hanna, Ruthie Henshall, Ollie Jochim, Bradley Perret, Matteo Zecca, Deka Walmsley, Ann Emery, Chris Grahamson, Howard Crossley, David Muscat, Claudia Bradley, Liam Mower, Barnaby Meredith, David Bardsley, Gillian Elisa, Craig Armstrong, Paul Basleigh, Spencer Cartwright, Lucinda Collins, Lee Hoy, Ruairidh Duguid, Chris Jenkins, Charlie Martin, Alan Mehdizadeh, Steve Paget, Ben Redfern, Charlotte Riby, Mark John Richardson, Mike Scott, Phil Snowden, Wendy Somerville, Spencer Stafford, Zach Atkinson, David Stoller, Todd Bell, Tomi Fry, Kyria Cooper, Danya Dixon, Demi Lee, Niamh Bennett, Ella Forman, Imogen Gurney, Lauren Henson, Imogen Kingsley Smith, Erin McIver, Syakira Moeladi, Natasha Pye, Charlotte Ross-Gower & Sophie Smart
Based on the 2000 film of the same name, Billy Elliot was meant for the stage.
When Billy Elliot (Elliott Hanna) begins taking ballet classes in his hometown with Mrs. Wilkinson (Ruthie Henshall), he finds his true passion. She sees talent in him, but his Dad (Deka Walmsley) has reservations about the queerness of it while he’s participating in a miner’s strike.
Though it’s a big part of the film, the balance of Billy’s struggles and his fathers are more apparent here. The way the show is staged, you can see both happen simultaneously and there’s not a number choreographed better than “Solidarity.”
Hanna is absolutely spell-binding as Billy. You can see his passion and he plays well alongside Henshall, Walmsley and Zach Atkinson as Michael.
Final say: One of the best modern pieces of theater. ★★★★★
