Jaden Shentall-Lee in rehearsals for Billy Elliot the Musical at Leicester Curve. Picture: Marc Brenner
Leicester Curve’s new production of the multi-award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical will open slightly later than planned after rehearsals were hit by a number of Covid-19 cases.
Directed by Curve’s artistic director Nikolai Foster, the first new production of the hit show will now begin performances on 13 July 2022, just under a week later than originally announced.
In a statement announcing the delay, Foster and Curve’s chief executive Chris Stafford said: “Unfortunately, valuable rehearsal time for Billy Elliot the Musical has been lost due to a number of Covid cases in our company. Therefore, we have made the decision to cancel performances from Thursday 7 to Tuesday 12 July to allow us to make up time in the rehearsal room and ensure we deliver a first-class production for our audiences…
“Whilst we are disappointed Billy is opening a little later than planned, we are pleased to announce we are extending the run by an extra week with final performances now scheduled until 20 August.
“The Billy Elliot company is now fighting fit, and we would like to thank them for their spirit and dedication to this production. We cannot wait to share this electrifying Made at Curve musical with you all next month!”
As announced the title role will be shared by Leo Hollingsworth from Nottinghamshire, Alfie Napolitano from Northamptonshire, Samuel Newby from Hertfordshire and Jaden Shentall-Lee, whose family live in Leicestershire.
The pivotal role of Billy’s dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson will be played by West End and Broadway legend Sally Ann Triplett, whose iconic roles include Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (National Theatre and Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Young Phyllis in Follies (Shaftesbury Theatre) and Martha in the recent Made at Curve UK tour of White Christmas.
Michael, Billy’s best friend, will be played by Bobby Donald, Lucas Haywood, Ethan Shimwell and Leicester’s Prem Masani, who will make his stage debut in the production.
The role of Mrs Wilkinson’s daughter, Debbie, will be shared by a trio of East Midlanders – Pearl Ball, Caitlin Cole, Lola Johnstone and Ellie Copping (returning to Curve’s stage after playing Susan Waverly in the 2018 Made at Curve production of White Christmas).
Joe Caffrey, who previously performed in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical, will join the cast as Billy’s Dad Jackie, while Broadway and West End performer Rachel Izen will play Billy’s Grandma Edna. Luke Baker (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, the Made at Curve UK tour of Grease) will play Billy’s older brother Tony and Jessica Daley (recently seen in Made at Curve productions of White Christmas and The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber) will play Billy’s Mum.
The adult company will be completed by 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.
The young company of ballet dancers and boxers, most of which are Midlands-based or have local family connections, will feature: 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.
The creative team for the production also includes choreographer Lucy Hind, musical supervisor and musical director George Dyer, set designer Michael Taylor, costume designer Edd Lindley, 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.
Based on the BAFTA Award-winning 2000 film Billy Elliot, Billy Elliot the Musical was first brought to life by the movie’s Stephen Daldry and writer Lee Hall with music composed by Elton John. The award-winning West End production played over 11 years, taking its final bow at London’s Victoria Palace Theatre in April 2016.
Angela Thomas
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