First look: Billy Elliot the Musical at Curve Theatre

A first look at Billy Elliot the Musical at Curve Theatre has been revealed!

A brand new Made at Curve production will run at the venue this summer from Wednesday 13 July to Saturday 20 August 2022

Sharing the title role of Billy Elliot will be Leo Hollingsworth, Alfie Napolitano, Samuel Newby and Jaden Shentall-Lee.

Steph Asamoah (Community Member) and Luke Baker (Tony) - Photography by Marc Brenner
Steph Asamoah (Community Member) and Luke Baker (Tony) – Photography by Marc Brenner
The cast of Billy Elliot - Photography by Marc Brenner
The cast of Billy Elliot – Photography by Marc Brenner
Samuel Newby (Billy) - Photography by Marc Brenner
Samuel Newby (Billy) – Photography by Marc Brenner
Joe Caffrey (Jackie) - Photography by Marc Brenner (1)
Joe Caffrey (Jackie) – Photography by Marc Brenner

Billy’s dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson will be played by West End and Broadway legend Sally Ann Triplett while Michael, Billy’s best friend will be shared by Bobby Donald, Lucas Haywood, Ethan Shimwell and Prem Masani.

Pearl Ball, Caitlin Cole, Lola Johnstone and Ellie Copping will share the role of Debbie, Mrs. Wilkinson’s daughter.

Also on the cast is Joe Caffrey, who previously performed in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical, now playing Billy’s Dad Jackie, while Rachel Izen will play Billy’s Grandma Edna.

Luke Baker will play Billy’s older brother Tony and Jessica Daley will play Billy’s Mum.

The cast of Billy Elliot - Photography by Marc Brenner (2)
The cast of Billy Elliot – Photography by Marc Brenner (2)
Kyrelle Lammy (Small Boy) and Craig Armstrong (George) - Photography by Marc Brenner
Kyrelle Lammy (Small Boy) and Craig Armstrong (George) – Photography by Marc Brenner
Lola Johnstone (Debbie) - Photography by Marc Brenner
Lola Johnstone (Debbie) – Photography by Marc Brenner
Jaden Shentall-Lee (Billy) - Photography by Marc Brenner
Jaden Shentall-Lee (Billy) – Photography by Marc Brenner
Jaden Shentall-Lee (Billy), Sally Ann Triplett (Mrs. Wilkinson) and Cameron Johnson (Mr. Braithwaite) - Photography by Marc Brenner
Jaden Shentall-Lee (Billy), Sally Ann Triplett (Mrs. Wilkinson) and Cameron Johnson (Mr. Braithwaite) – Photography by Marc Brenner

Completing the adult company are Craig Armstrong as George, Minal Patel as Big Davey, Cameron Johnson as Mr. Braithwaite, Micky Cochrane as Scab, Robin Paley Yorke as Lesley, Christopher Wright as Mr. Wilkinson, Michael Lin as Pit Supervisor, Jonathan Dryden Taylor as Posh Dad, William Atkinson as Older Billy and ensemble, and Steph Asamoah, Tori McDougall, Anna Rossa and Louie Wood as members of the ensemble.

Meanwhile the young company of ballet dancers and boxers includes Willow Adamson, Maddie Seren Ashley, Oliver Back, Aneeka Kaur Bains, Ella-Rose Blackburn Price, Harvey Clarridge, Lily Corkill, Miley Dalton, Matisse Didier, Isabelle Francis, Ethan Galeotti, Rahul Gandabhai, Isla Granville, Uzziah Gray, Orlaith Rae Hunt, Ava Rose Johnson, Ava Mia Komisarczuk, Kyrelle Lammy, Lienna-Jean Langdon, Tahlia Maddox, Lorcan Murphy, Nesisa Mhindu, Sophia Pirie, Hayden Polanco, Gopal Thacker and Mirabelle Varakantam.

Directed by Nikolai Foster, the new production is choreographed by Lucy Hind, with Musical Supervisor and Musical Director George Dyer.

Kyrelle Lammy (Boxer & Small Boy) and Lucas Haywood (Michael) - Photography by Marc Brenner
Kyrelle Lammy (Boxer & Small Boy) and Lucas Haywood (Michael) – Photography by Marc Brenner
Craig Armstrong (George) and Prem Masani (Michael) - Photography by Marc Brenner
Craig Armstrong (George) and Prem Masani (Michael) – Photography by Marc Brenner
(L-R) Anna Rossa (Police Officer), Michael Lin (Police Officer), Christopher Wright (Police Officer), Steph Asamoah (Police Officer) and Luke Baker (Tony) - Photography by Marc Brenner
(L-R) Anna Rossa (Police Officer), Michael Lin (Police Officer), Christopher Wright (Police Officer), Steph Asamoah (Police Officer) and Luke Baker (Tony) – Photography by Marc Brenner

The set has been designed by Michael Taylor with costumes designed by Edd Lindley. Also joining the creative team are Lighting Designer and Curve Associate Ben Cracknell, Sound Designer Adam Fisher, Props Supervisor Lizzie Frankl, RYTDS Resident Assistant Director Lilac Yosiphon, Birkbeck Trainee Director Thyrza Abrahams, Associate Choreographer James Berkery, Dialect Coach Elspeth Morrison, Fight Director Kev McCurdy and Head Chaperone Helen ‘H’ Mclaren-Frost.

Children’s casting is managed by Jo Hawes, with adult casting led by Curve Associate Kay Magson CDG.

Based on Stephen Daldry’s BAFTA-winning 2000 film starring Jamie Bell and Julie Walters, Billy Elliot the Musical features music from Elton John and book and lyrics by Lee Hall.

It’s the mid 80s. Thatcher is at her most powerful. Men mine and boys box. Until, in a small town in County Durham, a young boy falls in love with ballet.

Set amidst the increasingly bitter 1984/85 miners’ strike, Billy Elliot the Musical is a tale of determination, acceptance and daring to be different. In a close-knit community where family and tradition means everything, can Billy forge a new destiny and follow his passion?

For more information and tickets, visit www.curveonline.co.uk

About the author: Josh Darvill

Josh is Stageberry's editor with over five years of experience writing about theatre in the West End and across the UK. Prior to following his passion for musicals, he worked for more than a decade as a TV journalist.