Original Billy Liam Mower returns to his role in the hit show Billy Elliot – The Musical for a one-off charity gala performance on November 22, 2006, hosted by the show’s composer Elton John.

Director Stephen Daldry is to create a special performance of the musical for the gala, which celebrates the show’s one millionth ticket holder through the door of the Victoria Palace and is in aid of children’s charity The Place2Be.

Mower, who was one of three young stars to share the role when the musical opened in May 2005, will once more take to the stage as Billy, the young boy who prefers ballet to boxing. Mower gave his last performance as Billy on September 30, 2006. Along with the two other original Billys, George Maguire and James Lomas, he picked up a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical at the 2006 awards. The show also won three other Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical.

Set in 1984 at the time of the miners’ strikes in Northern England, the musical tells the touching story of Billy Elliot, a motherless boy whose father and brother are caught up in the strikes. Sent to boxing lessons by his father, Billy stumbles across a dance lesson and, inspired by dance teacher Mrs Wilkinson, he eventually applies for the Royal Ballet School.

The charity gala benefits the Easington branch of The Place2Be, which gives children in primary schools a place where they can express their feelings through talking, creative work and play. It delivers a range of services directly to children, parents and teachers in primary schools from ex-mining communities. Easington Village in County Durham was where much of the original film of Billy Elliot was shot.

To book tickets for the charity gala on November 22, 2006, ring the box office on +44 870 895 5577.

Related News