Universal Pictures, Working Title and Old Vic Productions announced today that the multi-award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical will open at Sydney's Capitol Theatre in January 2008 and that the search for Australia's Billy Elliot has begun.
Billy Elliot the Musical, which opened in London in May 2005 to rave reviews, has broken UK box office records and is still playing to capacity houses at the Victoria Palace Theatre.
Based on the film of the same name,
Billy Elliot is "set in the North East of England and is a funny, heart-warming and feel-good celebration of one young boy's dreams set against the decline of a community in Margaret Thatcher's England. This original story captured the hearts and minds of the world when the movie was released in October 2000. Nominated for 3 Academy Awards and 13 BAFTAs, this poignant film broke box office records across the world," state press notes.
Billy Elliot the Musical is uniquely staged around the particular talents of each individual Billy. When fully trained, each Billy will perform across a range of disciplines including tap, ballet, singing and acting for a full two and a half hour show to over two thousand people a night.
The audition process for the London production involved scouring the whole of the UK and over three thousand boys were auditioned to find the three boys who opened the London show.
Eric Fellner, Producer, said, "We're very excited to be bringing
Stephen Daldry's full West End production of Billy Elliot to Australia, only the second country in the world to get the chance to experience this astonishing theatrical event."
Louise Withers, Executive Producer (Australia) said, "An Australasian wide search will begin next month for the three young actors who will alternate in the role of Billy, with auditions being held in major centres and an exhaustive search for young talent in every town and city throughout Australia and New Zealand."
Producer Jon Finn said, "The boys don't have to come to the auditions with a knowledge of every discipline. We are not looking for stage school kids. Just children with the raw talent, energy and enthusiasm to be Billy Elliot".
Directed by
Stephen Daldry with book and lyrics by Lee Hall,
Billy Elliot was developed for the stage by the same multi-award winning creative team responsible for the film. The score has been composed by music legend
Elton John, the most celebrated UK singer songwriter of the last 30 years. Choreography is by Peter Darling with set design by
Ian MacNeil, costumes by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting by Rick Fisher, sound by Paul Arditti and music supervision by Martin Koch.
Plans are currently afoot for an American production of
Stephen Daldry, Lee Hall and
Elton John's award-winning musical, which is due to open on Broadway in Autumn 2008.
Billy Elliot the Musical is based on the Universal Pictures/Studio Canal Film and is produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jon Finn and Sally Greene. Executive Producers are
David Furnish and Angela Morrison
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