Based on the 2000 film of the same title, Billy Elliot the Musical tells the story of a young boy from a working-class family who dreams of being a dancer. The eight boys currently playing Billy and Michael in the West End production of the show performed a special finale to bring the curtain down on the Gala event.
Attendees included three of the original boys who played the title role of Billy Elliot – Liam Mower, George Maguire and Leon Cooke, as well as Haydn Gwynne, who originated the stage role of Billy’s dance teacher Mrs Wilkinson, choreographer Peter Darling and Billy Elliot the Musical‘s producers Eric Fellner, David Furnish, Jon Finn and Sally Greene.
Daldry is also Creative Executive Producer of Ceremonies for the London Olympic Games, and numerous sports figures were in attendance such as double Olympic Gold medallists James Cracknell and Dame Kelly Holmes, Ben Cohen World Cup winning former England rugby player, England cricketer Steven Davies, Paralympic athlete Nikki Emerson, World Championship Gold medal Modern Pentathalon winner Mhaira Spence, and members of the British Ladies Olympic Hockey Team.
Special guests also included choreographer Matthew Bourne, film director Simon Curtis, Strictly Come Dancing winner Camilla Dallerup, broadcasters Paul Gambaccini and Anneka Rice, TV presenters Dan Lobb and Ben Shepherd, newly appointed English National Ballet Artistic Director Tamara Rojo, and writer and broadcaster Janet Street Porter.
The current West End cast of Billy Elliot features Harrison Dowzell, Harris Beattie, Kaine Ward, Ryan Collinson and Adam Vesperman who alternate the role of Billy; Reece Barrett, Connor Kelly and Joe Massey who alternate the role of Michael; and Dayna Dixon, Francesca Mango and Macy Stasiak, who alternate the role of Debbie.
They perform alongside Gillian Bevan (Mrs. Wilkinson), Deka Walmsley (Dad), Michael Peavoy (Tony), Ann Emery (Grandma), Sean Kearns (George), Kay Milbourne (Dead Mum), Simon Ray Harvey (Mr. Braithwaite), Barnaby Meredith (Older Billy) and ensemble members Craig Armstrong, David Bardsley, Paul Basleigh, Alan Bradshaw, Dawn Buckland, James Butcher, Spencer Cartwright, Lucinda Collins, Jaymz Denning, Gillian Elisa, Helen French, Sergio Giacomelli, Simon Ray Harvey, Kieran Jae, Ian Gareth Jones, Sean Kearns, Connor McAllister, Barnaby Meredith, Kay Milbourne, Steven Paget, Steph Parry, Ryan Pidgen, Dan Reilly and Mike Scott.
