Genevieve Lemon Joins UK Cast of BILLY ELLIOT As Of May 31

From 31 May 2010 Genevieve Lemon will join the London cast of the multi-award winning Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre to play Billy's dance teacher Mrs Wilkinson. Lemon, a seasoned musicals performer in her native Australia, will make her West End debut as Mrs Wilkinson as the show enters into its sixth year in London. Twelve year old Aaron Watson from King's Lynn, Norfolk, will also join the Company to become the twenty third young boy to play the title role in the West End.

Based on the Oscar nominated film, Billy Elliot the Musical is an inspirational story of one boy's dream to realise his ambitions against the odds. Set in the North East of England against the background of the historic 1984/85 miners strike, Billy pursues his passion for dance in secret to avoid disapproval of his struggling family.

A funny, heart-warming and feel-good celebration of oNe Young boy's dreams, Billy Elliot the Musical features music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, is directed by Stephen Daldry with choreography by Peter Darling. 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.

Multi award-winning Genevieve Lemon's extensive Australian theatre credits include, most recently, Billy Elliot the Musical at both the Capitol Theatre, Sydney, and Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne for which she won both the Sydney Theatre Award and Helpmann Award for Best Actress in a Musical as well as the Green Room Award for Female Artist in a Leading Role. For the Sydney Theatre Company she has been seen in productions including Summer Rain, Victory, The Republic of Myopia, Harbour, Hanging Man, Morning Sacrifice, The Olympic Revue, The Recruit, Merrily We Role Along, Miracle City, The Girl Who Saw Everything, Once In A Life Time, The Seagull andThe Madras House. Her other recent credits include Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical at the Regent Theatre, Broken Glass for the Ensemble Theatre, Piaf and Summer of the Seventeenth Doll for the Melbourne Theatre Company, And A Nightingale Sang and Brilliant Lies for Queensland Theatre Company and The Cosmonaut's Last Message to the Woman He Loved in the Former Soviet Union for Company B. On film her credits include Charlotte's Web, Holy Smoke and The Piano and on television she has been seen in The Flying Doctors and Neighbours.

"My name is Aaron Watson and I am 12 years old. I live in King's Lynn which is a small town in Norfolk. I live with my mum Karen, my dad Nick, my brother Shaun and my sister Lisa. I have five pets - a dog called Rusty, two cats called Scampi and Molly and two guinea pigs called Scruff and Rolo. I first started gymnastics when I was five and then when I was seven I started dancing at Footlights Dance Centre, training in ballet and tap and then went on to train in modern, drama and contemporary dance. I am really excited to be playing Billy Elliot and I can't wait until my first performance. I would like to thank Bourne to Dance and all my dance, singing and acting teachers who have taught me everything I know!"

As well as the current London production, Billy Elliot the Musical has been staged in Sydney and Melbourne, is currently performing at the Imperial Theater on Broadway and the Oriental Theatre, Chicago, with further productions due to open in Korea in August 2010, Toronto in February 2011 and Japan in 2011. In addition a North American tour is slated to begin in November 2010 and productions are in the works for Germany and Holland.

Billy Elliot the Musical is presented in London by Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Tiger Aspect and is based on the Universal Pictures/Studio Canal film.

Genevieve Lemon (Mrs Wilkinson) and Aaron Watson (Billy) join the current cast including, Dean-Charles Chapman (12 years old from Essex), Oliver Gardner (12 years old from Bath), Rhys Yeomans (12 years old from Oldham, Lancashire), who alternate the title role of Billy alongside principal cast members, Joe Caffrey (Dad), Craig Gallivan (Tony), Ann Emery (Grandma), David Nellist (George), Sean Kingsley (Mr Braithwaite), Samantha Seager (Dead Mum) and Barnaby Meredith (Older Billy). They are joined by Connor Kelly (11 years old from Scunthorpe), Jake Pratt (13 years old originally from Scarborough, now living in Middlesex) and from 26 April Joe Massey (10 years old from Cheshire), who will alternate the role of Billy's best friend Michael and Emily Smith (10 years old from County Durham), Fleur Houdijk (12 years old from Hartlepool) and Francesca Mango (10 years old from Northumberland) who alternate the role of Debbie.

LISTINGS INFORMATION BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL

Booking until: currently booking until 18 December 2010
Theatre: Victoria Palace Theatre, Victoria Street, London SW1
Box Office: 0870 895 5577
Tickets: £19.50 - £65.00
Performances: Monday - Saturday at 7.30pm
Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm
Website: www.billyelliotthemusical.com

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