The musical Billy Elliot is coming back to Australia for a 10th anniversary tour and will be opening in Perth in 2020. Mark that one in your diaries, so you don’t miss out.
It’s the first time the musical has come to Perth, having previously only played in Melbourne and Sydney.
The hugely successful West End musical premiered in Australia in 2007 as the first international production outside of the UK, prior to its Broadway premiere. With the first Australian tour concluding in Melbourne in 2009, this new 10th Anniversary tour kicks off in 2019, ten years after the curtain came down in Australia.
Billy Elliot enjoyed huge critical acclaim with Sydney and Melbourne audiences flocking to the theatre, however the physical design was so complex at the time, that touring beyond those two cities was not possible. Now with some clever adjustments, the Producers are delighted that this incredible stage production is able to tour to other capital cities.
Billy Elliot the Musical will open at Sydney Lyric Theatre in October 2019 followed by planned seasons in Melbourne at the Regent Theatre from February 2020, Crown Theatre Perth from June 2020, QPAC’s Lyric Theatre in Brisbane from July 2020 and the Festival Theatre at Adelaide Festival Centre from September 2020.
Featuring music by the legendary Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot the Musical has been seen by almost 12 million people worldwide.
Acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, it is the recipient of over 80 awards internationally, including ten Tony Awards, five Olivier Awards and eight Helpmann Awards.
Billy Elliot the Musical’s composer Elton John had a close affinity with the original Australian production, attending the premiere in Sydney in 2007 and visiting again during his concert tour of Australia in 2008.
Elton John said creating Billy Elliot is one of the highlights of his career.
“Billy Elliot for me is one of the most rewarding and creative works of my career. I have very fond memories of the Sydney production in 2007 as it was the first city outside of the UK we mounted the show and found many incredibly talented children who would go on to carry the show through its successful Australian run. It is truly the most heart-warming show and I am so grateful that new generations of Australians will continue to experience its joy and inspiration.”
Based on the film of the same name, Billy Elliot the Musical is a funny, gritty, heart-warming and feel- good celebration following the journey of a young boy raised in a small British mining town.
Set against the backdrop of the 1984/’85 miners’ strike, Billy’s journey takes him out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family, the whole community and changes his life forever.
Billy Elliot the Musical premiered in London in 2005 and since then has been seen across five continents, winning numerous awards and millions of fans along the way. After winning five Olivier Awards including Best Actor in a Musical for the three Billys and Best Musical, the first international production opened in Sydney in 2007 which garnered eight Helpmann Awards including Best Musical and Best Actor in a Musical for the four boys who shared the role of Billy in 2008.
This was followed by an incredibly successful Broadway run which had the extraordinary honour of winning ten Tony Awards in 2009, including Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical and Best Male Actor in a Musical for the three boys that shared the role of Billy. Productions have been staged all over the world including the West End, Australia, Broadway, North American tour, Chicago, Toronto, The Netherlands, UK & Ireland Tour, Hamburg, Tokyo and Seoul.
Source: Media Release
