Smash-hit British musical Billy Elliot celebrated its tenth birthday in London’s West End last week and to mark the celebration, producers of the show have announced that it is extending its run at the Victoria Palace Theatre to 17 December 2016.
At the star-studded anniversary performance on 12th May 2015, Stephen Daldry director of Billy Elliot the Musical said ‘From the start, Billy Elliot has given me enormous professional fulfilment as well as huge pride and the show will always have a very special place in my heart.’
The musicals composer Sir Elton John has also let slip that he is more than interested in creating a film version of the show. Billy Elliot started out life as a film back in 2000, receiving numerous Oscar nominations, before being made into a musical in 2005. However, Elton John now seems to have his sights set on a film remake of the story, but this time with the musical numbers from the stage show. He reportedly stated that ‘It would be lovely to do a film version. There are other songs that we had had to leave out of the musical that would be great in the film. You can only do so much on stage with the material you've got and the length of the show, so I think if one did a movie of this show it would be nice to change some things and maybe put something fresh in.’
Billy Elliot tells the moving story of an 11-year-old boy who escapes his tough, poverty-stricken life in a mining town in County Durham by learning ballet and following his dreams of becoming a dancer.
Billy Elliot the Musical is now booking until 17 December 2016.
Jonathan Kent’s acclaimed production of Gypsy has announced that it is extending its West End run at the Savoy Theatre. The Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim musical will now run until 28 November 2015.