BILLY ELLIOT

Picture

Billy Elliot 

Opening Date:
previews – March 31, 2005
​official opening – May 11, 2005
Closing Date: April 9, 2016
Air date: Sept 28, 2014
Medium: cinema
Where to watch: Cinema (March - April 2025; UK and Northern Ireland only), Amazon (as an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases from this link) Broadway HD, YouTube
Show History
Billy Elliot The Musical was based on the hit film Billy Elliot, both of which were directed by Stephen Daldry. The film was released in 2000, and the West End musical opened in 2005. The production received rave reviews, won Olivier, Tony, and Helpmann awards for Best Musical, and went on to successful runs on Broadway, and around the world.  
Billy Elliot the Musical Live
Billy Elliot the Musical was filmed on September 28, 2014 and broadcast live in 8 different countries. The show was filmed using 12 cameras, providing a variety of angles from the audience and various levels on the stage. 
 
The screening broke several records the weekend of its release. It was screened at an unprecedented 553 locations around the UK, and topped the UK box office charts, bringing in £1.9 million (approx. US$3million).
 
The screening included interviews with Elton John, Lee Hall, and Stephen Daldry, and a backstage tour with Elliott Hanna. In a lovely nod to the stage show, the credits included members of the West End cast who had not appeared in the live film.

The title role was performed by Elliott Hanna, who at age 11 was the youngest actor to ever play Billy.

Older Billy was played by Liam Mower who was one of three actors to originate the role. Mower played the role of Billy for 18 months, the longest run of any of the Billys.  Mower continues to perform, and has appeared in several Matthew Bourne ballets.
  
The performance featured a specially choreographed encore featuring 25 current and former Billys.

Due to popular demand, the screening was reprised for a week throughout the UK.
 
Billy Elliot The Musical Live was later screened in cinemas in North America and around the world. Following the cinema releases, the filmed live musical was made available on DVD and BluRay, and was screened on American television through PBS’ Great Performances.
Interestingly, the DVD is not available from the official Billy Elliot merchandise store
 
The filmed live production received highly positive reviews. BroadwayWorld stated “it truly feels like a real cinematic experience as well as a perfect distillation of the stage show,” and several reviews noted the film’s ability to just about replicate the experience of live theatre.
 
In addition to the DVD and BluRay releases, the musical is widely available on demand on various streaming services such as 
Amazon (as an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases from this link), BroadwayHD and YouTube
Billy Elliot The Musical Live Production Credits 
Theatre: Victoria Palace, London
Producers: Eric Fellner, Jon Finn, Sally Greene, Dione Orrom, Tim Bevan
Executive Producers: David Furnish, Angela Morrison
Live Film Executive Producer: Helen Parker
Book: Lee Hall
Music: Elton John
Director: Stephen Daldry
Live Film Director: Brett Sullivan
Musical Director: Chris Hatt
Orchestrations: Martin Koch
Choreography: Peter Darling
Scenic Design: Ian MacNeil
Costume Design: Nicky Gillibrand
Lighting Design: Rick Fisher
Associate Lighting Designer (Live Broadcast): James Nowell
Sound Design: Paul Arditti
Hair, Wig & Make-Up Design: Campbell Young
Stage Manager: James-Paul Hayden

​Cast:
Elliott Hanna (Billy), Ruthie Henshall (Mrs. Wilkinson), Deka Walmsley (Jackie Elliot), Ann Emery (Grandma), Chris Grahamson (Tony Elliot), Zach Atkinson (Michael Caffrey), Liam Mower (Older Billy), David Muscat (Mr. Braithwaite), Claudia Bradley (Mrs. Elliot), Howard Crossley (George), Demi Lee (Debbie Wilkinson), Alan Mehdizadeh (Big Davey), Liam Sargeant (Small boy), Caspar Meurisse (Tall boy), David Stoller (Scab/Posh Dad)

​Ballet Girls: Niamh Bennett, Ella Forman, Imogen Gurney, Lauren Henson, Imogen Kingsley Smith, Erin McIver, Syakira Moeladi, Natasha Pye, Charlotte Ross-Gower, Sophie Smart
 
Special Encore: Liam Mower, James Lomas, George Maguire, Leon Cooke, Matthew Koon, Dean McCarthy, Layton Williams, Joshua Fedrick, Fox Jackson-Keen, Tom Holland, Ollie Gardner, Rhys Yeomans, Aaron Watson, Scott McKenzie, Josh Baker, Ryan Collinson, Kaine Ward, Harris Beattie, Harrison Dowzell, Redmand Rance, Ali Elliott Hanna, Bradley Perret, Matteo Zecca, Ollie Jochim

Sources

Written by Luisa Lyons (December, 2016)