For those who haven't seen it, Billy Elliot is the tale of a young talented boy who lives in a small coal mining village who wants to become a ballet dancer. His mother had died a few years earlier and his brother and father are salt of the earth mining men. The story is set during the miners strike of 1984. The battle between the Thatcher government and the mining union was one of the most bitter battles this country has seen.
The show weaves the two stories very powerfully, Billy secretly takes ballet lessons while he should be taking boxing lessons. The hardship and poverty the strike has inflicted on the lives of the men and their families is captured with great energy and vibrancy from a well cast troupe of men. There is outstanding support also from Billy's worn down father and the brassy yet charming ballet teacher who recognises Billy's talent and takes on a surrogate mother role Then there is Billy's grandma who adds a great peppering of humour throughout the production .
More social comment has been added in a moving and funny routine in which Billy and his cross-dressing best friend Michael perform.
The star of course is Billy who does not falter in three hours of high energy and sensational dancing.
If you haven't seen the show it is a must, if you have, then go again. You will laugh and cry and leave with a warm and fuzzy feeling inside.
Buy tickets from Shows in London.
I remember seeing the movie.
ReplyDeletethe movie is great too :)
ReplyDeleteThe first time I saw this was right there in London. It's an excellent show, very moving.
ReplyDeleteSaw the movie, but I'm difficult to drag along to a theatre, much to my wife's annoyance.
ReplyDeleteWe recently viewed the movie again. It sounds as if the stage version is even better.
ReplyDeleteI loved the movie!
ReplyDeleteI saw the movie and loved it, but I have not had the opportunity to see the play.
ReplyDelete