Billy Elliot The Musical @ Victoria Palace Theatre London West End

shawnivan

Five glorious years of performance and still better than ever before

Billy Elliot is one of those musicals that hardly needs an introduction, so ingrained is the story on the nation's consciousness. It began life back in year 2000 after writer Lee Hall penned a film about an 11-year-old boy who discovers that he has a penchant for ballet dancing. However, in the small mining community from which he hails, this is seen as a profession unfit and unacceptable for a young boy.

Despite this prejudice from the townsfolk - including his father - Billy continues to take lessons in secret with the help of his dedicated dance teacher. When Billy's father sees his son's obvious talent, he relents and Billy is free to win a place at the Royal Ballet and pursue his dream. It went on to open in Broadway in 2008 and scooped a record ten Tony awards in 2009. Billy Elliot also received a fantastic response from the UK public and the story was adapted into a musical in 2005 to critical acclaim.

BILLY ELLIOT SHOW DETAILS
Theatre: Victoria Palace Theatre
Special Offer Price: Monday - Friday Top Price Tickets (normally £65.00) reduced to just £44.50
Offer Validity (Jan 2011 - March 2011) & Excludes (14 & 21st - 26th Feb 2011)
For more details visit: UKheatretickets.co.uk

So what is it that people enjoy so much about Billy Elliot?

Both critics and audience members have praised Billy Elliot for its warm-hearted storyline. Critics seem to be in agreement that it is the musical's moving story of ultimate success against the odds that make it so great.


Charles Spencer of the Telegraph called it ""big and bold, imaginative and great-hearted"" and unashamedly said he left the theatre after seeing it for the first time ""in a mist of tears and joy"".

More than five years on, Billy Elliot shows no sign of declining in popularity in the West End. Still performing at the Victoria Palace Theatre, the musical was recently ranked alongside milestones like the invention of the iPod, YouTube and BBC One's Planet Earth in terms of its impact upon the British public during the nineties by the Times magazine.

Whether you've seen Billy Elliot or not, taking a loved one or family member along to the West End to share it with them could make for the perfect evening's entertainment - you may even discover a new-found passion for dance!