Great night out: Guaranteed
Morning after effect: Doing pirouette turns to the breakfast table
Recommend to friends: Certainly
See again: To see the other boys who share the title role of Billy Elliot perform
Best bit: Billy's grandma's show-stopping song about her youthful nights on the dance floor

After loving Billy Elliot, the 2000 film, I was not sure whether the musical rendition would live up to it. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Billy Elliot; The Musical successfully tells the compelling, heart-warming tale of the young coalminer’s son who discovers he was born to pirouette without steering away from the serious social commentary the story has to offer.

Their story is wonderfully explained, starting with an old movie news report which opens the show. The audience is invited into Billy’s world and to engage with the struggles and hardships of the small coal town during the British miners’ strike of the mid-1980s.

Billy, who was played by Fox Jackson-Keen on this particular night (three young actors share the title role), was terrific! This highly talented youngster showed amazing skill to sing, dance, act and charm the audience for a large part of the show.

The supporting cast were really good. Billy’s scatty old grandma (Ann Emery) was my definite favourite. Especially her show-stopping song about her late husband, Bill’s Grandpa - who she doesn’t seem to miss very much! - and her youthful nights on the dance floor.

I think the best scenes were the ones with the little ballet dancers in their tutus and Billy trying desperately to fit in, this pretty much captures the essence of the whole story. Plus they were very entertaining with their inept dancing and their rather enthusiastic piano player. There is also a wonderful dream-sequence scene where Billy dances with the older version of himself.

The set design was rather quirky and very effective; the cast made excellent use of simple props such as chairs and police shields. There were plenty of good often comical lyrics and the music was enjoyable although I can’t say that I came out of the theatre humming any catchy tunes. This show is much more about the dancing, which I definitely would like to have seen more of. There was not much that I didn’t like about the show it was perhaps a bit drawn out at times.

But overall an excellent show, with humour and jokes aimed at younger and older audiences.

Audience
Billy Elliot contains some strong language and violence. It is understandable that the writers have sprinkled the dialogue and lyrics with four letter words for the sake of authenticity, as this is what you would hear if you were living in a community like Billy’s.

The producers of the show recommend that children under the age of 12 not be permitted to attend; however, children above the age of 7 will be admitted. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult

Theatre Advice
Victoria Palace Theater holds much of its original character, even more so since having the front of house, auditorium and the dressing rooms refurbished. The grey marble foyer with its gold mosaic and white marble pillars is much as it was in 1991. The auditorium seats 1550 and is fully air-conditioned.

One part of the show takes place high up on stage so avoid seats too far back.