Billy Elliot wins Audience Award at Olivier Awards 2013
April 28, 2013
Billy Elliot The Musical has won the Audience Award at this year’s Olivier Awards.
Tade Biesinger from Billy Elliot performs on a stage in Covent Garden for the Olivier Awards
After being nominated for the last 3 years, the musical has finally won the public vote at this year’s Olivier Awards.
On a stage in Covent Garden’s piazza on Sunday 28 April, host Sheridan Smith and BBC Radio 2 presenter Elaine Paige presented the award to the show, followed by a performance by Tade Biesinger from Billy Elliot.
65,000 votes were cast by members of the theatregoing public for the Audience Award, with Matilda The Musical, The Phantom Of The Opera and Wicked in competition for the award.
BOOK
Book tickets to Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London
LINKS
View all winners of the Olivier Awards 2013
West End Live Timetable: Sunday 24 June 2012, Trafalgar Square
June 17, 2012
Back for its 8th year, West End Live – the spectacular celebration of West End theatre – returns to Trafalgar Square and for the first time will feature every single West End musical over the two days of the event.
WEST END LIVE TIMETABLE
Sunday 24 June 2012, Trafalgar Square
| Time on Stage | Show |
| 12.00PM | STOMP |
| 12.15PM | THE WIZARD OF OZ |
| 12.25PM | SHREK THE MUSICAL |
| 12.35PM | HAVANA RUMBA! |
| 12.50PM | DISNEY’S THE LION KING |
| 13.00PM | THRILLER LIVE |
| 13.25PM | ROCK OF AGES |
| 13.35PM | BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL |
| 13.40PM | MATILDA THE MUSICAL |
| 13.50PM | HORRIBLE HISTORIES |
| 14.05PM | EVERYTHING’S ROSIE |
| 14.10PM | MAMMA MIA! |
| 14.25PM | LOUISE DEARMAN |
| 14.40PM | MARK EVANS |
| 14.55PM | ALEX GAUMOND |
| 15.05PM | DANIEL BOYS |
| 15.15PM | JERSEY BOYS |
| 15.40PM | ANGELINA BALLERINA THE MOUSICAL |
| 15.55PM | BIG ZUMBA DANCE |
| 16.10PM | MARK JERMIN STAGE SCHOOL |
| 16.25PM | WEST END KIDS |
| 16.40PM | THE IN-BETWEEN |
| 16.55PM | NATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE |
| 17.10PM | WEST END GOSPEL CHOIR |
| 17.30PM | CONGO FAITH HEALERS |
| 18.00PM | SHOW ENDS |
LINKS
West End Live 2012 – Timetable for Saturday 23 June 2012
Photos of last year’s West End Live event
West End Live Timetable: Saturday 23 June 2012, Trafalgar Square
June 17, 2012
Back for its 8th year, West End Live – the spectacular celebration of West End theatre – returns to Trafalgar Square and for the first time will feature every single West End musical over the two days of the event.
WEST END LIVE TIMETABLE
Saturday 23 June 2012, Trafalgar Square
| Time on Stage | Show |
| 11.00AM | TOP HAT |
| 11.10AM | RAGTIME |
| 11.20AM | WICKED |
| 11.35AM | BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL |
| 11.45AM | SWEENEY TODD |
| 11.50AM | SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN |
| 12.00PM | THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA |
| 12.10PM | LES MISERABLES |
| 12.25PM | GHOST THE MUSICAL |
| 12.35PM | CHICAGO |
| 12.50PM | WE WILL ROCK YOU |
| 13.10PM | MAMMA MIA! |
| 13.25PM | JERSEY BOYS |
| 13.45PM | ROCK OF AGES |
| 14.05PM | THRILLER LIVE |
| 14.25PM | BLOOD BROTHERS |
| 14.35PM | DREAMBOATS & PETTICOATS |
| 14.45PM | MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT |
| 15.00PM | THE IN-BETWEEN |
| 15.10PM | ANGELINA BALLERINA THE MOUSICAL |
| 15.25PM | HORRIBLE HISTORIES |
| 15.40PM | BIG ZUMBA DANCE |
| 15.55PM | EVERYTHING’S ROSIE |
| 16.05PM | SYLVIA YOUNG THEATRE SCHOOL |
| 16.20PM | NATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE |
| 16.35PM | DAN AND LAURA CURTIS |
| 16.50PM | BIG DANCE |
| 17.05PM | DRAG DIVAS |
| 17.15PM | THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET |
| 17.30PM | ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS – THE CRAZE |
| 17.45PM | STOMP |
| 18.00PM | SHOW ENDS |
LINKS
West End Live 2012 – Timetable for Sunday 24 June 2012
Photos of last year’s West End Live event
West End Live 2012 timetable of performances announced
June 16, 2012
The timetable has been published for West End Live, the free annual theatre event that returns to London next weekend, on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 June 2012.
Back for its 8th year, this spectacular celebration of West End shows returns to Trafalgar Square and for the first time will feature every single West End musical over the two days of the event.
West End musicals taking part in the weekend include new shows Top Hat, Ragtime, Singin’ in the Rain, Spamalot, Horrible Histories, One Man, Two Guvnors, Matilda The Musical and Sweeney Todd.
They will be joined by long-running shows including Rock of Ages, Ghost The Musical, The Wizard Of Oz, Shrek The Musical, Stomp, Mamma Mia!, Disney’s The Lion King, Billy Elliot, Jersey Boys, Thriller Live, Chicago, Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Blood Brothers, Dreamboats and Petticoats, and We Will Rock You.
Stars will be out in force for the event, with performances promised by some of the West End’s top talent including Ghost’s Mark Evans, We Will Rock You’s Alex Gaumond, West End favourites Louise Dearman and Daniel Boys, and the casts of all the top shows.
There will also be performances from the West End Gospel Choir, the National Youth Music Theatre, Drag Divas and much more.
Organised by Westminster City Council and the Society of London Theatre, in association with MasterCard, this year’s event will run from 11am to 6pm on Saturday 23 June and 12pm to 6pm on Sunday 24 June.
WEST END LIVE TIMETABLE
Saturday 23 June 2012, Trafalgar Square
| Time on Stage | Show |
| 11.00AM | TOP HAT |
| 11.10AM | RAGTIME |
| 11.20AM | WICKED |
| 11.35AM | BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL |
| 11.45AM | SWEENEY TODD |
| 11.50AM | SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN |
| 12.00PM | THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA |
| 12.10PM | LES MISERABLES |
| 12.25PM | GHOST THE MUSICAL |
| 12.35PM | CHICAGO |
| 12.50PM | WE WILL ROCK YOU |
| 13.10PM | MAMMA MIA! |
| 13.25PM | JERSEY BOYS |
| 13.45PM | ROCK OF AGES |
| 14.05PM | THRILLER LIVE |
| 14.25PM | BLOOD BROTHERS |
| 14.35PM | DREAMBOATS & PETTICOATS |
| 14.45PM | MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT |
| 15.00PM | THE IN-BETWEEN |
| 15.10PM | ANGELINA BALLERINA THE MOUSICAL |
| 15.25PM | HORRIBLE HISTORIES |
| 15.40PM | BIG ZUMBA DANCE |
| 15.55PM | EVERYTHING’S ROSIE |
| 16.05PM | SYLVIA YOUNG THEATRE SCHOOL |
| 16.20PM | NATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE |
| 16.35PM | DAN AND LAURA CURTIS |
| 16.50PM | BIG DANCE |
| 17.05PM | DRAG DIVAS |
| 17.15PM | THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET |
| 17.30PM | ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS – THE CRAZE |
| 17.45PM | STOMP |
| 18.00PM | SHOW ENDS |
Sunday 24 June 2012, Trafalgar Square
| Time on Stage | Show |
| 12.00PM | STOMP |
| 12.15PM | THE WIZARD OF OZ |
| 12.25PM | SHREK THE MUSICAL |
| 12.35PM | HAVANA RUMBA! |
| 12.50PM | DISNEY’S THE LION KING |
| 13.00PM | THRILLER LIVE |
| 13.25PM | ROCK OF AGES |
| 13.35PM | BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL |
| 13.40PM | MATILDA THE MUSICAL |
| 13.50PM | HORRIBLE HISTORIES |
| 14.05PM | EVERYTHING’S ROSIE |
| 14.10PM | MAMMA MIA! |
| 14.25PM | LOUISE DEARMAN |
| 14.40PM | MARK EVANS |
| 14.55PM | ALEX GAUMOND |
| 15.05PM | DANIEL BOYS |
| 15.15PM | JERSEY BOYS |
| 15.40PM | ANGELINA BALLERINA THE MOUSICAL |
| 15.55PM | BIG ZUMBA DANCE |
| 16.10PM | MARK JERMIN STAGE SCHOOL |
| 16.25PM | WEST END KIDS |
| 16.40PM | THE IN-BETWEEN |
| 16.55PM | NATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE |
| 17.10PM | WEST END GOSPEL CHOIR |
| 17.30PM | CONGO FAITH HEALERS |
| 18.00PM | SHOW ENDS |
LINKS
Photos of last year’s West End Live event
Olivier Awards audience award shortlist announced
March 11, 2012
The shortlist for the 2012 Olivier Audience Award, part of the Olivier Awards, has been announced.
Ramin Karimloo in Les Miserables, on the shortlist for a 2012 Olivier Audience Award
The West End shows Billy Elliot The Musical, Jersey Boys, Les Misérables and Wicked have been voted into the shortlist by members of the public, and were announced today on BBC Radio 2’s Elaine Paige on Sunday show.
Voting now continues to choose a winner, which will be announced at the Olivier Awards on 15 April at the Royal Opera House, in a ceremony hosted by Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton. Voting will stay open until 5pm on 11 April.
Shows that were on the Audience Award longlist but missed out in the voting include Mamma Mia!, War Horse and The Mousetrap.
Billy Elliot The Musical has been playing at the Victoria Palace theatre since 2005, with music by Elton John. Jersey Boys, a hit on Broadway, tells the story of American band Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and plays at the Prince Edward Theatre. Les Misérables, which is the world’s longest running musical having opened in 1985, and is currently playing at the Queen’s Theatre starring Ramin Karimloo. Finally, Wicked, which won the Audience Award in 2010, has been playing at the Apollo Victoria since 2006.
The full Olivier Award nominations will be announced on 15 March.
LINKS
Olivier Awards website on Westendtheatre.com
Voting for the Olivier Audience Award
Gillian Bevan And Deka Walmsley Join The West End Cast Of Billy Elliot The Musical As Ann Emery Returns To Play Grandma
October 14, 2011
On 14 November 2011 Gillian Bevan (Mrs Wilkinson) and Deka Walmsley (Dad) will join the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical along with Ann Emery who returns to the cast to play Grandma, the role she originated on stage at the Victoria Palace in 2005 and played until 2010. They will be joined by new principal cast members Michael Peavoy (Tony), Sean Kearns (George) and Simon Ray Harvey (Mr. Braithwaite).
Based on the Oscar nominated film, Billy Elliot the Musical is an inspirational story of one boy’s dream to realise his ambitions against the odds. Set in the North East of England against the background of the historic 1984/85 miners’ strike, Billy pursues his passion for dance in secret to avoid disapproval of his struggling family.
Billy Elliot the Musical features music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, is directed by Stephen Daldry with choreography by Peter Darling. The production features scenic design by Ian MacNeil, the associate director is Julian Webber, costume design is by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting design by Rick Fisher and sound design by Paul Arditti. Musical supervision and orchestrations are by Martin Koch.
From 14 November the West End cast will comprise Ryan Collinson (13 years old from Southport), Josh Baker (13 years old from Rochester) and Adam Vesperman (13 years old from Seattle, Washington, USA) who alternate the role of Billy. Reece Barrett (13 years old from Exeter), Connor Kelly (13 years old from Scunthorpe), Connor Lawson (13 years old from Shotton, County Durham) and Joe Massey (12 years old from South Wirrell) who alternate the role of Billy’s best friend Michael; Francesca Mango (11 years old from Northumberland) and Emily Williams (10 years old East Wingate, County Durham) will 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, Romy Baskerville, Paul Basleigh, James Butcher, Spencer Cartwright, Jaymz Denning, Caroline Deverill, Helen French, Sergio Giacomelli, Kieran Jae, Connor McAllister, Steve Paget, Ryan Pidgen, and Dan Reilly and swings Alan Bradshaw, Dawn Buckland, Lucinda Collins, Ian Gareth Jones and Mike Scott.
The internationally award-winning show, which opened at the Victoria Palace Theatre in 2005, has been seen by over 7.5 million people worldwide, including 3.5 million in the West End. Now in its seventh year in London, Billy Elliot the Musical, has also been staged in Sydney, Melbourne, Chicago, Toronto and Seoul, South Korea. The show continues to perform at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway and on tour across North America and further international productions are planned.
Billy Elliot the Musical is presented in London by Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Tiger Aspect and is based on the Universal Pictures/ Studio Canal film.
Gillian Bevan was last on stage in Road Show at the Menier Chocolate Factory, previously she has been seen in Relatively Speaking at the Watermill Theatre, Billy Liar at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Grand Hotel at the Donmar Warehouse, In the Midnight Hour at the Young Vic, The Boys From Sycracuse at Regents Park Open Air Theatre, and she was in the original London cast of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Her work for the Royal Shakespeare Company includes As You Like It andThe Wizard of Oz. On television she is best know for her roles as Gina Hope in BBC 1’s Holby City and Claire Hunter in the award winning Channel 4 series Teachers, her other television credits include The Innocents, Lewis and Lost Empires.
Deka Walmsley was last on stage in Lee Hall’s The Pitmen Painters playing George Brown, a role he created in the original production at Live Theatre, Newcastle and subsequent runs at the National Theatre, UK tour and on Broadway. His other theatre credits include Cyrano De Bergerac at the Bristol Old Vic, Enemies at the Almeida Theatre and Playing with Fire at the National Theatre. His television credits include EastEnders, Doctors, Dalziel and Pascoe, Inspector George Gently and Holby City.
Ann Emery has most recently been seen on stage in Betty Blue Eyes at the Novello Theatre. Her extensive theatre credits include Hard Times at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, Martin Guerre at the Prince Edward Theatre and Cats at the New London Theatre. On television her credits include Rentaghost, Julia Jekyll and Harriet Hyde and Radio Roo all for the BBC, Emery has also made guest appearances in her late brother’s BBC hit comedy The Dick Emery Show
Michael Peavoy will make his West End debut in the role of Billy Elliot’s brother Tony. A 2010 RADA graduate Michael made his professional stage debut in Nicholas Hytner’s production of Hamlet at the National Theatre.
Release issued by: Premier PR
LINKS
Book tickets to Billy Elliot The Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London
Billy Elliot Ticket Offer – Save 31%
September 18, 2011
Winner of 10 Tony awards, BILLY ELLIOT is the worldwide smash-hit musical based on the acclaimed film.
SPECIAL OFFER: Save 31% on tickets to Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London
Based on the Oscar nominated film, Billy Elliot the Musical is an inspirational story of one boy’s dream to realise his ambitions against the odds. A funny, heart-warming and feel-good celebration of one young boy’s dreams, Billy Elliot the Musical features music by Elton John alongside the award-winning creative team behind the film – writer Lee Hall, director Stephen Daldry and choreographer Peter Darling.
This original story captured the hearts and minds of the world when the movie was released in October 2000. Nominated for 3 Oscars and 13 Bafta awards this poignant film broke box office records across the world.
“Billy Boy – this is the greatest musical yet” Daily Telegraph.
“Brit Musical of the decade has arrived” Daily Express.
“Billy’s a whizz! He’ll lift your spirits, make you cry and send you home high with hope” Daily Mail.
SPECIAL OFFER: Save 31% on tickets to Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London
Adam Vesperman Joins London Production Of Billy Elliot The Musical To Become Twenty Seventh Billy Elliot
July 25, 2011
Today 25 July 2011, in the production’s seventh year in the West End, 13 year old Adam Vesperman from Seattle, USA, will make his West End stage debut as Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre, becoming the twenty-seventh boy to play the title role in the hit west end show Billy Elliot The Musical.
Based on the Oscar nominated film, Billy Elliot the Musical is an inspirational story of one boy’s dream to realise his ambitions against the odds. Set in the North East of England against the background of the historic 1984/85 miners’ strike, Billy pursues his passion for dance in secret to avoid disapproval of his struggling family.
The internationally award-winning show, which opened at the Victoria Palace Theatre in 2005, has been seen by over 7 million people worldwide, including 3.3 million in the West End. Now in its seventh year in the West End, Billy Elliot the Musical, has performed in Sydney, Melbourne, Chicago and Seoul, South Korea, and is currently performing at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway, on tour across North America and at the Canon Theatre, Toronto.
Billy Elliot the Musical features music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, is directed by Stephen Daldry with choreography by Peter Darling. The production features scenic design by Ian MacNeil, the associate director is Julian Webber, costume design is by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting design by Rick Fisher and sound design by Paul Arditti. Musical supervision and orchestrations are by Martin Koch.
Adam Vesperman is thirteen years old from Seattle, Washington, in the United States. Adam lives with his Mum, Dad, his sister Delaney and two dogs, Joey and Pepsi. He started dancing when he was 7, training in jazz and hip-hop and is now trained in a variety of dance styles, including contemporary and ballet. On joining the Billy Elliot Company Adam said: “After a few auditions around America, I was the happiest boy on earth when I found out that I would be coming to London and to train to be Billy Elliot. It’s so hard being 5,000 miles away from my family and friends for so long, but it’s worth it. Being Billy has changed my life so much – the training, experience, and best of all the wonderful people I get to work with. I miss my family a lot, but being in the show keeps us so busy that I don’t really think about it too much. I am the sixth American Billy to star in the London production and I hope that I can maintain the high quality shown by my predecessors.”
Adam Vesperman joins twelve year old Ryan Collinson from Southport, Josh Baker (13 years old from Rochester), Dean Charles-Chapman (13 years old from Romford, Essex) and Scott McKenzie (13 years old from Dumbarton, Scotland) who alternate the role of Billy. Reece Barrett (12 years old from Exeter), Connor Kelly (12 years old from Scunthorpe), Connor Lawson (12 years old from Shotton, County Durham) and Joe Massey (11 years old from South Wirrell) alternate the role of Billy’s best friend Michael; Francesca Mango (11 years old from Northumberland), Emily Smith (11 years old from County Durham) and Emily Williams (9 years old East Wingate, County Durham) alternate the role of Debbie. They perform alongside Genevieve Lemon (Mrs. Wilkinson), Martin Marquez (Dad), Tom Lorcan (Tony), Diane Langton (Grandma), Chris McGlade (George),
Kay Milbourne (Dead Mum), Kevin Patricks (Mr. Braithwaite), Barnaby Meredith (Older Billy) and ensemble members Ashley Andrews, David Bardsley, Romy Baskerville, Paul Basleigh, Alan Bradshaw, Spencer Cartwright, Caroline Deverill, Gillian Elisa, Helen French, Tim Funnell, Sergio Giacomelli, Shaun Henson, Stevie Hutchinson, Stuart Ramsay, Derek Richards and Russell Wilcox and swings Craig Armstrong, Dawn Buckland, Lucinda Collins, Kieran Jae and Mike Scott.
Billy Elliot the Musical is presented in London by Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Tiger Aspect and is based on the Universal Pictures/ Studio Canal film.
Release issued by: Premier PR
LINKS
Book tickets to Billy Elliot The Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London
West End Live 2011: Love Never Dies and Billy Elliot
June 24, 2011
West End Live 2011 photos including Ramin Karimloo from Love Never Dies and the cast of Billy Elliot The Musical.
LINKS
View West End Live photos of Rock of Ages and Betty Blue Eyes
View West End Live photos of The Wizard of Oz and Crazy For You
View West End Live photos of Ghost The Musical, Wicked and Jersey Boys
View West End Live photos of Legally Blonde and Lend Me A Tenor
Book tickets to Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace
Book tickets to Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre
Wicked and Billy Elliot perform at free Summer launch event
June 13, 2011
It’s a big week to catch free performances of your favourite musicals. Ahead of this weekend’s annual West End Live event in Trafalgar Square, this Wednesday sees an opportunity to catch a free lunchtime concert featuring Victoria-based musicals Wicked and Billy Elliot.
Wicked to perform at Cardinal Place in Victoria
The occasion is the launch of this year’s Great British Summer promotion, held this Wednesday 15 June 2011 at 12.30pm at Cardinal Place roof garden in Victoria, London.
Great British Summer runs big outdoor screens in three London locations, showing key Wimbledon tennis matches and a number of Hollywood movies over the summer. Screens will be placed at Cardinal Place in Victoria, Bankside on the Southbank and New Street Square in Holborn.
The free performance on Wednesday will feature the casts of Wicked and Billy Elliot, supported by The Gleeks and the West End Gospel Choir.
West End Live this weekend (Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June) will see a host of musicals perform a free concert in Trafalgar Square in London.
LINKS
