Liam Mower as Billy Elliot and Isaac James as Older Billy in the 2005 production of Billy Elliot the Musical. Liam returns as Older Billy for a special performance on 28 September. Picture: David Scheinmann
On Sunday 28 September at 2pm, Liam Mower will join the cast of Billy Elliot the Musical for a special performance to be broadcast live from the Victoria Palace Theatre to cinemas across the UK and around the world. Mower, who will play the role of Older Billy, originated the role of Billy Elliot in 2005 along with George Maguire and James Lomas, and was the first boy ever to play the role on stage.
Director Stephen Daldry said: “All of us at Billy Elliot are really looking forward to what we hope will be a very special performance when we broadcast our show live around the world. We are planning some surprises on the night and we are delighted to announce today that Liam Mower is returning to the production for this fantastic event to play Older Billy. The show’s journey has been a remarkable one and the live broadcast in September will mark yet another chapter in the extraordinary life of Billy Elliot, the young boy with an inspirational story from the mining village of Easington.”
Liam Mower added: “I still vividly remember the first time I stepped out on to the stage at the Victoria Palace Theatre almost ten years ago – it was terrifying and thrilling all at the same time. I was 12 years old and that was my very first time performing in front of an audience. Along with George and James we had been rehearsing the show for many months and to bring the story of Billy Elliot to life on stage was really exciting. I was unbelievably honoured to be asked by Stephen Daldry to come back and rejoin the cast as Older Billy for this special performance, and, to step in to Billy Elliot’s ballet shoes for one more time will be a real privilege.”
Liam Mower began dancing at the age of nine, attending the Northern Academy of Performing Arts. Two years later he became a pupil at White Lodge, the full time boarding school of the Royal Ballet. In 2004, Mower beat more than 3,000 hopefuls to be cast in the role of Billy Elliot, a role he played from March 2005 for almost a year and a half. In 2006, Mower became the youngest person ever to win the Olivier Award for Best Actor when he received the accolade along with James Lomas and George Maguire.
Shortly after leaving the West End, he was cast as Mikey Adams in Wire in the Blood for ITV. He completed his training at the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance with a first class BA (Hons) degree, and during this time toured with Rambert Dance Company. For New Adventures, he has performed in Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker!, played Tony in Play Without Words and made his principal debut as Count Lilac in Sleeping Beauty, with seasons in the UK, Italy, Russia and the USA. Most recently, Mower played the role of The Prince in Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, the very ballet that forms the final scene in the film Billy Elliot.
Based on the Academy Award-nominated film, Billy Elliot the Musical has been entertaining London’s theatergoers at the Victoria Palace Theatre since 2005, and has won over 80 theatre awards globally including ten Tony Awards and five Olivier Awards. Billy Elliot the Musical has now been seen by more than 9.5 million people worldwide and 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.
Productions of Billy Elliot the Musical have been staged on Broadway, as well as in Sydney, Melbourne, Chicago, Toronto and Seoul, South Korea. The North American touring production, which began in 2010, finished its run in August 2013 with an engagement in São Paulo, Brazil, the first time Billy Elliot played in South America. The show will open in the Netherlands in November this year, and 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.
Tickets for Billy Elliot the Musical Live in cinemas can be purchased via www.BillyElliotLive.co.uk. Alternatively, check with local cinemas.
Tickets for this special performance of Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre can be purchased via the Victoria Palace Theatre box office.
See Liam Mower as Billy Elliot in the 2005 music video for Elton John’s ‘Electricity’ here.
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