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Billy Elliot the Musical will embark on its first UK and Ireland tour next year following its final show on the West End.
The UK tour will open at the Theatre Royal Plymouth in February and will go on to show at locations around the country such as Sunderland, Bradford, Cardiff, Dublin, Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester, Southampton and Birmingham. The tour is currently booking until May 2017.
Billy Elliot the Musical tells the story of a boy who pursues a dream during the miners’ strike, battling doubt from family and friends to become a successful ballet dancer.
The show has been seen by over 5.25 million people in London and nearly 11 million people worldwide to date. In total, ninety boys have now played the iconic role of Billy on stage in the West End production.
The production has been written by Lee Hall, and will be directed by Stephen Daldry and choreographed by Peter Darling. Elton John also composed the show’s score.
Elton John commented, “I’ve said it before and it still remains true, Billy Elliot has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my entire life. The talented young performers who have become part of our Billy Elliot family have amazed me with their achievements from the very start.
“Each time I have revised the show I have been moved by Billy’s heart-warming story and his determination to achieve his dreams. I am so delighted that new audiences around the country will now have the opportunity to experience this extraordinary piece of work.”
Writer Lee Hall added, “The Victoria Palace has been Billy Elliot’s home for eleven years and, after the film, was an incredible place to start our theatrical journey. Our show has become so much bigger than anything I could have imagined and what has been particularly gratifying is to hear how many people have been genuinely inspired by Billy’s story.
“I can’t wait to take the show on tour, especially to the North East – it’s going to be an extraordinary thing to take Billy’s story back to where it started.”
The UK tour will run concurrently alongside the West End production, until the show’s final West End performance on 9th April.
This ultimate performance will take place at the Victoria Palace Theatre on the day the production celebrates its eleventh birthday.
For more information and tickets visit www.billyelliotthemusical.com.
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