Producers of Billy Elliot have announced the four boys who will share the title role in the musical's first ever UK and Ireland tour.
Starring as Billy in the new touring production will be Adam Abbou (12 years old from Liverpool), Matthew Lyons (11 years old from Leeds), Haydn May (11 years old from Bath) and Lewis Smallman (12 years old from West Bromwich).
The boys were cast following nationwide auditions and after months of intensive rehearsals will alternate in the role when the show opens at the Theatre Royal Plymouth on Wednesday 24th February 2016.
Adam Abbou trained at Nazene Danielle’s Dance Dynamix and has competed in various regional and national dance championships. He has previously appeared as ‘Jerome’ in “South Pacific” and ‘Nibs’ in “Peter Pan”, both at the Liverpool Empire.
Matthew Lyons trained at the West Yorkshire School of Performing Arts and has previously appeared in Matthew Bourne’s production of “Lord of the Flies” at the Bradford Alhambra.
Haydn May trained at the Dorothy Coleborn School of Dancing and is a member of Tap Attack in Swindon and the Bristol Hawks Gymnastics Club. He has appeared as ‘Chip’ in “Beauty and the Beast, ‘Munchkin’ in “The Wizard of Oz” and ‘Michael in “Peter Pan”, all at the Theatre Royal, Bath.
Lewis Smallman trained at Arabesque Dance Academy and Renaissance Arts. He has appeared in the English Youth Ballet’s “Swan Lake” and as ‘Kurt’ in “The Sound of Music” at Sutton Town Hall. He is also a keen gymnast with Sandwell Flyers Gymnastic Academy.
Adam, Matthew, Haydn and Lewis will be joined by Henry Farmer (10 years old from Lancashire), Elliot Stiff (9 years old from Sunderland) and Samuel Torpey (9 years old from Manchester) who all alternate the role of Billy’s best friend Michael. Joining them will be Lilly Cadwallender (10 years old from Hartlepool), Evie Martin (10 years old from Middlesbrough) and Italia Ross (10 years old from Hartlepool) who all alternate the role of Debbie.
As previously announced, the adult cast will be led by Annette McLaughlin as Mrs Wilkinson, Martin Walsh as Dad, Scott Garnham as Tony and Andrea Miller as Grandma.
Completing the cast are Phillip Aiden, Jonathan Alden, Leo Atkin, Tom Bainbridge, Deborah Bundy, Jack Butterworth, Luke Cinque-White, Donna Combe, Wayne Fitzsimmons, Nikki Gerrard, Abbie Louise Harris, Paul Hutton, Leon Kay, Charlie Martin, Kris Manuel, Barnaby Meredith, Daniel Page, Georgina Parkinson, Amy Rhiannon-Worth, Rachel Spurrell, Sebastian Sykes, Rafe Watts and Luke Zammit.
The West End production of Billy Elliot will close this year on 9th April due to developmental work at the Victoria Palace Theatre. The musical will close after 4,600 performances, coinciding with its eleventh birthday.
Billy Elliot has been seen to date by over 5.25 million people in London and nearly 11 million people worldwide, has grossed over $800 million worldwide and is the winner of over 80 theatre awards internationally.
Photo Credit: Jonny Ruff
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