Billy ElliotThe Musical |
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| You may remember the
successful film 'Billy Elliot' featuring Jamie Bell and Julie Walters which was released in 2000 and nominated
for 3 Oscars and 13 Bafta awards.
This story has now been adapted for the stage and is currently playing at The Victoria Palace Theatre in London by the same people that created the film. It is written by Lee Hall, directed by Stephen Daldry and choreographed by Peter Darling. The musical score is by Elton John.
The story is set in a coal mining town in the north of England where a boy called Billy Elliot is learning boxing. In an adjacent classroom, girls are learning ballet and Billy decides he wishes to learn ballet too.
The story is about the prejudice he faces and overcomes, both from within and outside his family. A sideline to this story is that it is set at the time when the miners are on strike. The miners and their unions have been in conflict with the government (in particular conservative party governments) for many years in the UK. In most cases the miners have won since Britain was dependent on coal for its electricity production, but in this case they lost owing to being up against a shrewd government led by Margaret Thatcher. more info on the miner's strike
The film 'Billy Elliot' had a 15 certificate in the UK due to scenes on the confrontation between the police, the miners and Billy which are also dramatized in the musical which is not recommended for children under 8 years.
Billy Elliot The Musical (Original Cast Recording)(2005) Although Billy sings a bit in tracks 6,10 and 14 his main songs are 'Expressing Yourself' and 'Electricity'. Liam sang 'Electricity' for "the Children in Need' Telethon.
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The role of Billy Elliot On the opening night (12th May 2005) the role of Billy Elliot was played by 12 year old Liam Mower (shown in the picture on the left, and above boy on right). Liam Mower lives in Hull and was a member of the Northern Theatre Company. When he was eleven he successfully auditioned at the Urdang Academy, and later gained a place at the Royal Ballet mid Associates. Whilst auditioning for Billy Elliot he gained a full time place at the Royal Ballet School "White Lodge”, where he is at the moment. Singing and acting are relatively new to him. It is Liam Mower who features on the Original Cast Recording. Due to regulations regarding child employment the part of Billy Elliot is shared between three boys who take it in turns to play the role. The other two boys were James Lomas and George Maguire. These two boys who were slightly older than Liam were changed for younger boys in 2006. James Lomas : James Lomas at 10 years old was a South Yorkshire champion in gymnastics and a brown belt in karate. He is also a member of his local operatic society and has played the role of Oliver. At twelve years old he joined Sheffield Youth Theatre as they were doing Shakespeare’s Pericles at the Sheffield Crucible, and began dancing lessons. His first audition was for the part of Billy Elliot about which he says 'Billy Elliot has opened new doors for me. I have been learning ballet, break dancing and body popping, which I have loved. I have also made some fantastic friends, and met some brilliant people.'
George Maguire - George Maguire started in dance and used to enter and win talent competitions held at the holiday camps (eg Pontins, Butlins etc.) He started singing lessons when he was eleven and became a member of Colin’s Performing Arts agency, an agency that supplies children manly for TV commercials. He joined a School of Dancing before the audition for the role of Billy Elliot.
Video Here is a stage performance of the song 'Electricity' sung by the three boys and accompanied by Elton John (voice and piano)
Click on the picture above to watch this video (10M). Elton John Elton
John, in his early career days, wrote the soundtrack to the film
'Friends' which was a minor hit in 1971. He became Mega famous
and apart from being the 'Pinball Wizard' in Ken Russell's film of the
rock musical 'Tommy', it was not until the last 10 years that he has
concentrated more on film and theatre. As well as the soundtrack
to the film 'Lion King' with which "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" won
the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and "Circle
Of Life" won the Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying
Vocals,
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