BILLY ELLIOT Launches First Ever UK and Ireland Tour at Theatre Royal Plymouth Today

Universal Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions present the first ever UK and Ireland tour of Billy Elliot the Musical.

Billy Elliot the Musical will open at the Theatre Royal Plymouth where it will play from today 24 February to Saturday 2 April 2016 before visiting Sunderland Empire (6 - 30 April 2016), Bradford Alhambra (10 May - 11 June 2016), Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff (14 June - 16 July 2016), Dublin Bord Gáis Energy Theatre (26 July - 3 September 2016), Edinburgh Playhouse (20 September - 22 October 2016), Bristol Hippodrome (25 October - 26 November 2016), Manchester Palace Theatre (29 November 2016 - 28 January 2017), Southampton Mayflower (7 February - 4 March 2017 ), finishing at Birmingham Hippodrome (7 March - 6 May 2017).

Eric Fellner (Producer) said in a statement: "Having recently celebrated ten extraordinary years of Billy Elliot the Musical in London, we are delighted to have the opportunity to bring a new touring production of this inspiring show to fans across the UK and Ireland and the chance to delight new audiences along the way."

Based on the highly successful film, the show is set in a northern mining town against the background of the 1984/'85 miners' strike and follows Billy's journey from boxing to ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and whole community and changes his life forever.

Acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, Billy Elliot the Musical has now been seen by over 10.5 million people across five continents and is the recipient of over 80 awards internationally, including ten Tony Awards and five Olivier Awards. In 2006, Liam Mower, James Lomas and George Maguire, the first three boys to play the title role, became the youngest performers ever to have won the Olivier Award for Best Actor with the show also picking up the Best Musical prize. In total, eighty nine boys have now played the iconic title role on stage worldwide.

Billy Elliot the Musical is brought to life by the multiple award-winning creative team behind the film including writer Lee Hall (book and lyrics), director Stephen Daldry and choreographer, Peter Darling, joined by Elton John who composed the show's score. The production features scenic design by Ian MacNeil, the associate director is Julian Webber, costume design is by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting design by Rick Fisher and sound design by Paul Arditti. Musical supervision and orchestrations are by Martin Koch.

The first Dutch production of Billy Elliot the Musical continues at the AFAS Circustheater in The Hague. Productions have previously been staged on Broadway, in Sydney, Melbourne, Chicago, Toronto and Seoul, South Korea. The North American touring production, which began in 2010, finished its spectacular run in August 2013 with an engagement in São Paulo, Brazil, the first time Billy Elliot played in South America. Further international productions are planned including the first Japanese production in 2017. Billy Elliot the Musical is currently booking at the Victoria Palace Theatre, London until 17 December 2016.

Billy Elliot the Musical is presented by Universal Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions and isbased on the Universal Pictures/Studio Canal film. The show is produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jon Finn and Sally Greene. Angela Morrison and David Furnish are executive producers.

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL - UK AND IRELAND TOUR 2016/2017:

WEDNESDAY 24 FEBRUARY - SATURDAY 2 APRIL 2016

PLYMOUTH THEATRE ROYAL www.theatreroyal.com

ON SALE NOW

WEDNESDAY 6 APRIL - SATURDAY 30 APRIL 2016

SUNDERLAND EMPIRE www.atgtickets.com/venues/sunderland-empire

ON SALE 9 OCTOBER 2015

TUESDAY 10 MAY - SATURDAY 11 JUNE 2016

BRADFORD ALHAMBRA www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

ON SALE NOW

TUESDAY 14 JUNE - SATURDAY 16 JULY 2016

WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE, CARDIFF www.wmc.org.uk

ON SALE 27 OCTOBER 2015

TUESDAY 26 JULY - SATURDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 2016

DUBLIN BORD GÁIS ENERGY THEATRE www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie

ON SALE 23 OCTOBER 2015

TUESDAY 20 SEPTEMBER - SATURDAY 22 OCTOBER 2016

EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE THEATRE www.atgtickets.com/venues/edinburgh-playhouse

ON SALE 29 OCTOBER 2015

TUESDAY 25 OCTOBER - SATURDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2016

BRISTOL HIPPODROME www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome

ON SALE 12 NOVEMBER 2015

TUESDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2016 - SATURDAY 28 JANUARY 2017

MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE www.atgtickets.com/venues/palace-theatre-manchester

ON SALE 2 NOVEMBER 2015

TUESDAY 7 FEBRUARY - SATURDAY 4 MARCH 2017

SOUTHAMPTON MAYFLOWER THEATRE www.mayflower.org.uk

ON SALE 2 FEB 2016

TUESDAY 7 MARCH - SATURDAY 6 MAY 2017

BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME www.birminghamhippodrome.com

ON SALE APRIL 2016

http://billyelliotthemusical.com/