Ten years of Billy Elliot the Musical in photos‏

Today (12 May 2015) Billy Elliot the Musical celebrates ten years in the West End. The musical received its world premiere at the Victoria Palace Theatre in March 2005 with opening night on 12 May 2005 and has now been seen by more than ten million people worldwide, including five million at its London home.

2005 – Original Billy Elliots James Lomas, George Maguire and Liam Mower at the opening night curtain call in May 2005. (Picture: David Scheinmann)

2006 – Simon Cowell, Sharon Osborne, Elton John and Louis Walsh join the curtain call with Liam Mower for a special charity performance of Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre in May 2006. (Picture: Craig Sugden)

2007 – The London Billys meet the Australian Billys at the Victoria Palace Theatre with Elton John who wrote the music for Billy Elliot the Musical. (Picture: David Scheinmann)

2008 – Stephen Daldry celebrates Billy Elliot the Musical’s third Birthday in the West End with the London and Broadway Billy Elliots. (Picture: Dan Wooller)

2009 – Oliver Gardner joins cast to play Billy Elliot on 4th Birthday performance on 12 May 2009. (Picture: Alastair Muir)

2010 – Billy Elliot the Musical celebrates the 5th Birthday with 19 past and present Billy Elliots in a special finale. (Picture: Richard Davenport)

2011 – Nearly 300 young people from around the UK perform at the Billy Youth Theatre West End Gala at the Victoria Palace Theatre. (Picture: Ellie Kurtz)

2012 – Stephen Daldry, Elton John, Lee Hall and the cast of Billy Elliot the Musical celebrate 7 years in the West End. (Picture: Dan Wooller)

2013 – Billy Elliot the Musical wins the Olivier Audience Award, voted for by the public, with Deka Walsmley (Dad) and Gillian Bevan (Mrs Wilkinson) collecting the accolade. (Picture: Pamela Raith)

2014 – Billy Elliot the Musical Live is broadcast to cinemas from the Victoria Palace Theatre with a special mash-up curtain call reuniting 25 former and current Billy Elliots. (Picture: Craig Sugden)

2015 – Past and present Billy Elliots prepare for a special performance on ITV’s Sunday Night at the Palladium.