Billys Announced for UK & Ireland Tour

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porschesrule
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Billys Announced for UK & Ireland Tour

Post by porschesrule »

Finally, they've been announced:

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)

http://www.westendframe.com/2016/02/bil ... ot-uk.html
Flyin high
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Re: Billys Announced for UK & Ireland Tour

Post by Flyin high »

Wowsers, two of the new Michaels are only 9yrs old! And from that article looks like one of the Billys (Adam) is from the same dance school as Eliott Hanna.
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tankntonic
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Re: Billys Announced for UK & Ireland Tour

Post by tankntonic »

Billy Elliot Uk has posted a better photo on their Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBmqh6HQiTs ... lyelliotuk
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ERinVA
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Re: Billys Announced for UK & Ireland Tour

Post by ERinVA »

I have moved this thread to the Billy Elliot UK/Ireland Tour - Cast section and have started threads for the the Billys. Please post any information relevant to the tour cast in this section rather than the general UK/Ireland Tour section. Thanks.
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kport
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Re: Billys Announced for UK & Ireland Tour

Post by kport »

Here is an article related to this announcement, from a newspaper in Sunderland (where, I understand, you can take Evening Classes....):

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on ... h-10869223
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Re: Billys Announced for UK & Ireland Tour

Post by Todd »

Flyin high wrote:Wowsers, two of the new Michaels are only 9yrs old!
It would be interesting to hear the producers' rationale for choosing Michaels who are not much older than the small boys. I know this discussion has come up before about appropriate ages for the Billys and Michaels, but apparently they've had a change of heart from when they cast the original roles for the movie with a 13-year-old Jamie Bell and a 16-year-old Stuart Wells (granted, they both looked about 13 in the movie). Just seems to be a bit of a stretch to imagine a 9-year-old Michael dealing with his sexuality at that age, and a 12-year-old Billy having a best mate who's that much younger than him. Maybe they're planning on the tour lasting about 3 years and are figuring they won't have to re-cast the actors during the entire run !
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Re: Billys Announced for UK & Ireland Tour

Post by jtsw1 »

Well, the "dealing with his sexuality"-topic in the musical is much smaller compared to the movie. And we don't know how tall these 9-year-olds are. Also, even if both boys were 12 years old, they could still be very much different from each other.
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Re: Billys Announced for UK & Ireland Tour

Post by patc »

I'm glad to see they are promoting the show with a photo of the original happy/smiley "Billy Jump" for the four boys in the UK/IRL tour in total contrast to the ridiculous 16 y/o sour-faced teenager that someone in their publicity department foolishly thinks represents Billy Elliot.

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Re: Billys Announced for UK & Ireland Tour

Post by Todd »

patc wrote:the ridiculous 16 y/o sour-faced teenager that someone in their publicity department foolishly thinks represents Billy Elliot.
Hey now, that's one of the original London Billys - George Maguire - that you're talking about there. 8-) I remember him being very intense, but rarely sour. But I do agree that the body they've attached to his head does make him look miscast as a Billy. Would be interesting to know who thought that was a good idea.
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Re: Billys Announced for UK & Ireland Tour

Post by patc »

Todd wrote:Hey now, that's one of the original London Billys - George Maguire - that you're talking about there.
I'm well aware of that but the fact is that the image of a sullen denim-clad teenage delinquent does not in the slightest convey what Billy is all about - in fact, it is quite the opposite to what Billy is.
Would be interesting to know who thought that was a good idea.
From memory the change from the original came about when the Broadway show opened.

This is the real and original Billy image doing the proper Billy Jump. Why they felt the need to change it is beyond me.

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