Review: Billy Elliot the Musical
Set in a northern mining
town, against the background 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 and whole
community and changes his life forever.
In Milton Keynes there
are four talented boys who play the role of Billy Elliot. On my visit to
the theatre the role was played by Haydon May aged 12. What a talented
young man! I look forward to seeing him again in future roles.
Another key character was Henry Farmer aged 12 whose talent and
enjoyment on the stage was a pleasure to see. Italia Ross aged 11,
played Debbie, the slightly neglected daughter of the dance teacher. It
was amazing to see so many talented children in dancing and acting roles
all enjoying themselves. The adult actors took great delight in working
with these young professionals.
The dance routines were lively and energetic combining a mix of ballet, tap and contemporary dance. The miner's strike is cleverly woven through the story of Billy with some powerful scenes.
The stage, lighting and sound effects really enhanced the show showing the rawness of the miner's strike with all its aggression and the gentle nature of Billy with his love of ballet. An unusual combination of ideas.
Acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, Billy Elliot the Musical has now been seen by nearly 11 million people across five continents and is the recipient of over 80 awards internationally, including ten Tony Awards and five Olivier Awards. We all said how great it was that Milton Keynes is attracting such a high calibre of shows.
The show will run till Saturday 17th June so it would be a shame to miss it. Tickets from www.atgtickets.com/Miltonkeynes or telephone 0844 871 7652 (booking fee applies)
The dance routines were lively and energetic combining a mix of ballet, tap and contemporary dance. The miner's strike is cleverly woven through the story of Billy with some powerful scenes.
The stage, lighting and sound effects really enhanced the show showing the rawness of the miner's strike with all its aggression and the gentle nature of Billy with his love of ballet. An unusual combination of ideas.
Acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, Billy Elliot the Musical has now been seen by nearly 11 million people across five continents and is the recipient of over 80 awards internationally, including ten Tony Awards and five Olivier Awards. We all said how great it was that Milton Keynes is attracting such a high calibre of shows.
The show will run till Saturday 17th June so it would be a shame to miss it. Tickets from www.atgtickets.com/Miltonkeynes or telephone 0844 871 7652 (booking fee applies)
