BILLY ELLIOT's Final Performance to Support East Durham Trust

The producers of Billy Elliot the Musical are delighted to announce that the show will play its final London performance in support of East Durham Trust, a charity based in Easington, Co. Durham, a former mining town and the setting for Billy Elliot's iconic story. Tickets for the final performance will be released for sale today (Tuesday 1 March 2016, 2pm) via the Victoria Palace Theatre box office, with all proceeds from ticket sales for this performance being donated to East Durham Trust.

As the Billy Elliot the Musical celebrates its eleventh birthday and after 4,600 performances, due to the theatre's previously announced refurbishment programme, the multi award-winning West End production will play its final performance at the Victoria Palace Theatre on 9 April 2016. The show has been seen to date by nearly 5.4 million people in London, while globally it has been seen by almost 11 million people, grossed over $800 million and won more than 80 theatre awards. The first UK and Ireland tour of Billy Elliot the Musical - currently booking until May 2017 - opened in February at the Theatre Royal Plymouth where it will play until 2 April before visiting Sunderland, Bradford, Cardiff, Dublin, Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester, Southampton and Birmingham.

East Durham Trust is the flagship voluntary and community sector organisation for the East Durham area, established to counteract the effects of social and economic deprivation through a range of practical, community based programmes. The Trust is also the community engagement partner in the Arts Council-supported 'East Durham Creates' initiative, working to increase arts engagement for local people with little or no access to artistic or cultural activities.

Eric Fellner, Producer and Co-Chairman, Working Title Films, said: "We are delighted to be supporting East Durham Trust, a charity that resonates only too well with Lee Hall's heart-warming story of Billy and his family. Billy's journey has been something we are extremely proud of and we are delighted that proceeds from our final performance at the Victoria Palace Theatre will go to helping the local communities in County Durham."

Malcolm Fallow, CEO of East Durham Trust, said: "I want to thank everyone involved in Billy Elliot the Musical for their incredible support. This is a fantastic gesture and it will genuinely be appreciated by the people of East Durham and make a significant difference to our ongoing work in the community."

Brought to life by the award-winning creative team behind the film including writer Lee Hall (book and lyrics), director Stephen Daldry and choreographer Peter Darling, joined by Elton John who composed the show's score, Billy Elliot the Musical features scenic design by Ian MacNeil, the associate director is Julian Webber, costume design is by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting design by Rick Fisherand sound design by Paul Arditti. Musical supervision and orchestrations are by Martin Koch.

Based on the Oscar nominated film released in 2000 and set in a northern mining town against the background of the 1984/'85 miners' strike, Billy's journey takes him out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and whole community and changes his life forever.

Since its world premiere in 2005, the West End production has been honoured with numerous awards including 4 Olivier Awards in 2006, when Liam Mower, James Lomas and George Maguire, the first three boys to play the title role in London, became the youngest performers ever to have won the Olivier Award for Best Actor. In total, world-wide, ninety four boys have now played the iconic role on stage with the West End production welcoming Euan Garrett, 12 years old from East Lothian, Scotland, last November as the forty-second young boy to take on the title role in London. Since 2004, over 4,400 young boys have attended open auditions around the country in the hope of winning the iconic title role.

Productions have previously been staged on Broadway, in Sydney, Melbourne, Chicago, Toronto, Seoul, the Netherlands and São Paulo, Brazil where the North American touring production finished its spectacular run. The first Japanese language production will open at the Akasaka ACT Theater in Tokyo in 2017 and further international productions are currently planned.

Ruthie Henshall and Deka Walmsley lead the adult cast in the West End as Mrs Wilkinson and Dad respectively in Billy Elliot the Musical. They are joined by Matthew Seadon-Young as Tony, Gillian Elisa as Grandma, Howard Crossley as George, Claudia Bradley as Dead Mum, Phil Snowden as Mr Braithwaite and James Butcher as Older Billy. Ensemble members are Craig Armstrong, Richard Ashton, James Ballanger, David Bardsley, Paul Basleigh, Rachel Bingham, Lucinda Collins, Peter Cork, Scott Cripps, Robbie Durham, Ross Finnie, Lee Hoy, Ruri James, Ben Redfern, Charlotte Riby, Mike Scott, Sharon Sexton, Wendy Somerville, Spencer Stafford, David Stoller and Kerry Washington.

Brodie Donougher (13 years old from Blackpool), Euan Garrett (12 years old from East Lothian, Scotland), Thomas Hazelby (11 years old from Doncaster) and Nat Sweeney (13 years old from Birmingham) alternate the title role of Billy Elliot. Ben Robinson (10 years old from Chester), Nathan Jones (12 years old from Northumberland) and Bradley Mayfield (11 years old from South Yorkshire) play the role of Billy's best friend Michael. Beatrice Bartley (11 years old from Durham), Hollie Jayne Creighton (11 years old from Sunderland) and Connie Fisher (11 years old from North Yorkshire) alternate the role of Debbie.

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. The show is produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jon Finn and Sally Greene. Angela Morrison and David Furnish are executive producers.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Theatre: Victoria Palace Theatre, Victoria Street, London, SW1E 5EA

Booking until: Booking to 9 April 2016

Box Office: 0844 248 5000

Tickets: £19.50 - £69.50 to include a £1.50 theatre restoration levy

Performances: Monday - Saturday at 7.30pm

Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm

Website: billyelliotthemusical.com

Twitter: @billyelliotuk

Facebook: billyelliotthemusical

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