Billy Elliot the Musical this week (7 September 2015) welcomes Bradley Mayfield, Beatrice Bartley and Hollie Creighton who join the cast in the role of Michael and Debbie respectively. Bradley Mayfield, 11 years old from South Yorkshire, joins the cast to play Billy Elliot’s best friend Michael. Beatrice Bartley, 10 years old from Durham and Hollie Creighton, 10 years old from Sunderland, will play Mrs Wilkinson’s daughter Debbie alternating the role with current cast member Connie Fisher.
Now in its eleventh year in the West End, Billy Elliot the Musical is currently booking at the Victoria Palace Theatre until 17 December 2016. In addition, the first UK and Ireland tour of Billy Elliot the Musical will begin in February 2016 at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.
Bradley Mayfield (Michael) makes his West End debut in Billy Elliot the Musical. Previously he has appeared in Oliver! at the Sheffield Crucible and in Peter Pan at City Hall Sheffield. Bradley trained at the Sharon Berry School of Theatre Dance and is also a keen martial artist, recently achieving his first-degree black belt in Taekwondo.
Beatrice Bartley (Debbie) has trained and performed with the Gala Theatre Stage School and Elvet School of Dance. As well as performing in local pantomimes, Beatrice is a keen sports girl and enjoys running for Durham Harriers and playing for the Durham Palatinates Netball Club. She is making her West End debut in Billy Elliot the Musical.
Hollie Creighton (Debbie) has previously appeared in Cinderella and Snow White at the Sunderland Empire and will make her West End debut in Billy Elliot the Musical. Hollie trained at SK Dance and the Kathleen Burdon School of Ballet and has competed in various dance festivals and championships with SK Dance.
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.
Billy Elliot the Musical has now been seen by over 10.5 million people worldwide and has played on five continents. Billy Elliot the Musical is the recipient of over 80 awards internationally, receiving ten Tony Awards and five Oliviers, including the 2013 Audience Award. In total, eighty nine boys have now played the iconic role on stage across the globe.
Brodie Donougher (12 years old from Blackpool), Thomas Hazelby (11 years old from Doncaster), Ollie Jochim (13 years old from Chelmsford, Essex) and Nat Sweeney (13 years old from Birmingham) alternate the title role of Billy Elliot. Bradley Mayfield (11 years old from South Yorkshire) joins Tomi Fry (12 years old from Swindon) and Nathan Jones (12 years old from Prudhoe, Northumberland) to play the role of Billy’s best friend Michael. Beatrice Bartley (10 years old from Durham) and Hollie Creighton (10 years old from Sunderland) join Connie Fisher (10 years old from Brompton, North Yorkshire) to alternate the role of Debbie.
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 Chris Grahamson as Tony, Gillian Elisa as Grandma, Howard Crossley as George, Claudia Bradley as Dead Mum, Phil Snowdon 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.
Billy Elliot the Musical is brought to life by the multiple 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. 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.
The first Dutch production of Billy Elliot the Musical is currently playing at the AFAS Circustheater in The Hague. Productions have previously been staged on Broadway, in Sydney, Melbourne, Chicago, Toronto and Seoul, South Korea. The North American touring production, which began in 2010, finished its spectacular run in August 2013 with an engagement in São Paulo, Brazil, the first time Billy Elliot played in South America. Further international productions are currently planned.
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.