BILLY ELLIOT Welcomes New Billy From Tonight!

Today, 9 December 2013, 13 year old Mitchell Tobin from Florida, USA, will become the thirty-sixth boy and the eighth American to play Billy Elliot in the West End, having previously played the title role in the North American touring production. Billy Elliot the Musical is now in its ninth year at the Victoria Palace Theatre where it is currently booking to May 2015. Having now been seen by nearly 9.5 million people worldwide,Billy Elliot the Musical has been the recipient of over 80 major international awards.

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.

Mitchell joins a cast led by Anna-Jane Casey who plays Billy's dance teacher Mrs Wilkinson, Deka Walmsley who plays Billy's dad and Kevin Wathen as Billy's brother Tony, with Howard Crossley as George, Alexander Loxton as Older Billy, Kay Milbourne as Dead Mum, Simon Ray Harvey as Mr. Braithwaite, and Ann Emery who created the role of Grandma on stage when the show premiered in 2005.

Mitchell Tobin said "I am 13 years old and live with my dad, mom, sister Shaina and my brother Ben in Florida, USA. I first started dancing when I was three and a few years later I started competing in dance competitions. My Billy Elliot journey began when I was nine when I auditioned for the role in America. I was later asked to play Billy in the North American touring production which was an incredible experience. I feel very honoured to have been asked to join the cast of Billy Elliot in London - I am so looking forward to playing Billy Elliot again and I can't wait to make my West End debut!"

Mitchell joins Elliott Hanna (10 years old from Liverpool), Bradley Perret (11 years old from Juan les Pins, France), Redmand Rance (13 years old from Fareham, Hampshire) and Ali Rasul (13 years old from Hartlepool) who will alternate the role of Billy. Zach Atkinson (12 years old from Manchester) Zak Baker (12 years old from St Albans) and Freddie Butterfield (11 years old from West Yorkshire) play the role of Billy's best friend Michael. Dayna Dixon (11 years old from Newcastle upon Tyne), Demi Lee (10 years old from Middlesbrough) and Millie Thornton (11 years old from Sunderland) play Debbie.

Ensemble members are Craig Armstrong, David Bardsley, Paul Basleigh, Claudia Bradley,Spencer Cartwright, Lucinda Collins, Matthew Dale, Gillian Elisa, Helen French, Lee Hoy, Ruri James, Dean Maynard, Alan Mehdizadeh, David Muscat, Ryan O'Gorman, Steve Paget, Charlotte Riby, Mike Scott Edmund Shaw and Spencer Stafford.

Productions of Billy Elliot the Musical have been staged on Broadway, as well as in Sydney, Melbourne, Chicago, Toronto and Seoul, South Korea. The North American touring production, which began in 2010, recently finished its spectacular run with a three week August engagement in São Paulo, Brazil, the first time Billy Elliot has played in South America. Further international productions are planned including Holland and Germany.

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.

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