Todd Bell Join Cast of West End's BILLY ELLIOT

This week 11 year old Todd Bell from Whitehaven, Cumbria, joins the cast of Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre to play Billy Elliot's best friend Michael, alternating the role with current Michaels Zach Atkinson (12 years old from Manchester) and Tomi Fry (11 years old from Swindon). Todd Bell will join the adult cast led by Ruthie Henshall (Mrs Wilkinson), Deka Walmsley (Dad), Chris Grahamson (Tony), Ann Emery (Grandma), Howard Crossley (George) and Barnaby Meredith (Older Billy) alongside current Billy Elliots Elliott Hanna (11 years old from Liverpool), Ollie Jochim (12 years old from Chelmsford, Essex Bradley Perret (12 years old from Juan les Pins, France) and Matteo Zecca (12 years old from Buckinghamshire) who alternate the title role.

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.

Todd Bell said: "I am 11 years old and am from Whitehaven, Cumbria, where I live with my mum Lesley, my dad Martin, my brother Cameron and my lovely dog Buster. I have been going to the Whitehaven Theatre of Youth for the past four years where I have I have had two of the most amazing drama teachers, Maria Morton and Jude Henderson. More recently, I started dancing and was taught by the fantastic Mrs Karen Starkey who has really helped me get to where I am. It was my dream to be in Billy Elliot the Musical and when I was told I got the part of Michael I could not believe it; my dream had come true! I would like to thank everyone at Billy Elliot for their help, encouragement and ongoing support."

Billy Elliot the Musical has now been seen by nearly 10 million people worldwide, and in May next year the internationally celebrated show will celebrate its 10th birthday. Billy Elliot the Musical features music by Elton John and book and lyrics by Lee Hall. Stephen Daldry directs with choreography by Peter Darling.

On Sunday 28 September 2014 at 2pm, Billy Elliot the Musical is set to bring cinema goers to their feet when the show is broadcast live from the West End to cinemas across the UK and around the world. Tickets for the live broadcast are on sale at cinemas now, and tickets are also available for this very special performance at the Victoria Palace theatre.

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, finished its spectacular run in August last year with an engagement in São Paulo, Brazil, the first time Billy Elliot played in South America. The show will open in the Netherlands in November 2014, and further international productions are currently planned.

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.

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