On 14 November 2011 Gillian Bevan (Mrs Wilkinson) and Deka Walmsley (Dad) will join the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical along with Ann Emery who returns to the cast to play Grandma, the role she originated on stage at the Victoria Palace in 2005 and played until 2010. They will be joined by new principal cast members Michael Peavoy (Tony), Sean Kearns (George) and Simon Ray Harvey (Mr. Braithwaite).
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.
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.
From 14 November the West End cast will comprise
Ryan Collinson (13 years old from Southport),
Josh Baker (13 years old from Rochester) and
Adam Vesperman (13 years old from Seattle, Washington, USA) who alternate the role of Billy.
Reece Barrett (13 years old from Exeter),
Connor Kelly (13 years old from Scunthorpe),
Connor Lawson (13 years old from Shotton, County Durham) and
Joe Massey (12 years old from South Wirrell) who alternate the role of Billy's best friend Michael;
Francesca Mango (11 years old from Northumberland) and
Emily Williams (10 years old East Wingate, County Durham) will alternate the role of Debbie.
They perform alongside
Gillian Bevan (Mrs. Wilkinson),
Deka Walmsley (Dad), Michael Peavoy (Tony),
Ann Emery (Grandma),
Sean Kearns (George),
Kay Milbourne (Dead Mum),
Simon Ray Harvey (Mr. Braithwaite),
Barnaby Meredith (Older Billy) and ensemble members
Craig Armstrong,
David Bardsley,
Romy Baskerville,
Paul Basleigh, James Butcher,
Spencer Cartwright,
Jaymz Denning,
Caroline Deverill,
Helen French,
Sergio Giacomelli,
Kieran Jae,
Connor McAllister,
Steve Paget, Ryan Pidgen, and Dan Reilly and swings
Alan Bradshaw,
Dawn Buckland,
Lucinda Collins, Ian
Gareth Jones and
Mike Scott.
The internationally award-winning show, which opened at the Victoria Palace Theatre in 2005, has been seen by over 7.5 million people worldwide, including 3.5 million in the West End. Now in its seventh year in London, Billy Elliot the Musical, has also been staged in Sydney, Melbourne, Chicago, Toronto and Seoul, South Korea. The show continues to perform at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway and on tour across North America and further international productions are planned.
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.
Gillian Bevan was last on stage in Road Show at the
Menier Chocolate Factory, previously she has been seen in Relatively Speaking at the
Watermill Theatre, Billy Liar at the
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Grand Hotel at the
Donmar Warehouse, In the Midnight Hour at the Young Vic, The Boys From Sycracuse at Regents Park Open Air Theatre, and she was in the original London cast of
Stephen Sondheim's Follies at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Her work for the
Royal Shakespeare Company includes As You Like It andThe Wizard of Oz. On television she is best know for her roles as Gina Hope in BBC 1's Holby City and Claire Hunter in the award winning Channel 4 series Teachers, her other television credits include The Innocents, Lewis and Lost Empires.
Deka Walmsley was last on stage in
Lee Hall's The Pitmen Painters playing
George Brown, a role he created in the original production at Live Theatre, Newcastle and subsequent runs at
The National Theatre, UK tour and on Broadway. His other theatre credits include Cyrano De Bergerac at the Bristol Old Vic, Enemies at
The Almeida Theatre and Playing with Fire at
The National Theatre. His television credits include EastEnders, Doctors, Dalziel and Pascoe, Inspector George Gently and Holby City.
Ann Emery has most recently been seen on stage in Betty Blue Eyes at the Novello Theatre. Her extensive theatre credits include Hard Times at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, Martin Guerre at the
Prince Edward Theatre and Cats at the New London Theatre. On television her credits include Rentaghost, Julia Jekyll and Harriet Hyde and Radio Roo all for the BBC, Emery has also made guest appearances in her late brother's BBC hit comedy The Dick Emery Show
Michael Peavoy will make his West End debut in the role of Billy Elliot's brother Tony. A 2010 RADA graduate Michael made his professional stage debut in
Nicholas Hytner's production of Hamlet at
The National Theatre.
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