The search for Billy Elliot has begun .....

Universal Pictures, Working Title and Old Vic Productions announced today that the multi-award winning Billy Elliot The Musical will open at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in December 2007 and that the search for Australia’s Billy Elliot has begun.

Billy Elliot The Musical, which opened in London in May 2005 to extraordinary reviews, has broken UK box office records and is still playing to capacity houses at the Victoria Palace Theatre.

Eric Fellner, Producer, said, “We’re very excited to be bringing Stephen Daldry’s full West End production of Billy Elliot to Australia, only the second country in the world to get the chance to experience this astonishing theatrical event.”

Based on the film of the same name, Billy Elliot is set in the North East of England and is a funny, heart-warming and feel-good celebration of one young boy's dreams set against the decline of a community in Margaret Thatcher’s England. This original story captured the hearts and minds of the world when the movie was released in October 2000. Nominated for 3 Academy Awards and 13 BAFTAs, this poignant film broke box office records across the world.

Sally Greene, Producer, said, "It’s fantastic that Billy Elliot is spreading its wings overseas. I am absolutely thrilled that we have the opportunity to share this unique and amazing show with Australian audiences."

Billy Elliot The Musical is uniquely staged around the particular talents of each individual Billy. When fully trained, each Billy will perform across a range of disciplines including tap, ballet, singing and acting for a full two and a half hour show to over two thousand people a night.

Louise Withers, Executive Producer (Australia) said, “An Australasian wide search will begin next month for the three young actors who will alternate in the role of Billy, with auditions being held in major centres and an exhaustive search for young talent in every town and city throughout Australia and New Zealand.”

Producer Jon Finn said, “The boys don’t have to come to the auditions with a knowledge of every discipline. We are not looking for stage school kids. Just children with the raw talent, energy and enthusiasm to be Billy Elliot”.

The audition process for the London production involved scouring the whole of the UK and over three thousand boys were auditioned to find the three boys who opened the London show.

Directed by Stephen Daldry with book and lyrics by Lee Hall, Billy Elliot was developed for the stage by the same multi-award winning creative team responsible for the film. The score has been composed by music legend Elton John, the most celebrated UK singer songwriter of the last 30 years. Choreography is by Peter Darling with set design by Ian MacNeil, costumes by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting by Rick Fisher, sound by Paul Arditti and music supervision by Martin Koch.

Working Title has been co-chaired by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner since 1992.  Between them, the pair has produced 80 feature films which have amassed more than $3.5 billion worldwide.  The company's commercial and critical hits include The Interpreter; About a Boy; Notting Hill; Elizabeth; Fargo; Dead Man Walking; Bean; High Fidelity; Johnny English; Billy Elliot; Four Weddings and a Funeral; Bridget Jones's Diary; Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason; O Brother, Where Art Thou?; Love Actually; Shaun Of The Dead; Pride & Prejudice; Nanny McPhee; and United 93. Forthcoming releases are Paul Weiland's Sixty Six; Phillip Noyce's Catch A Fire; Ringan Ledwidge's Gone; Joe Carnahan's Smokin' Aces; Shekhar Kapur's The Golden Age; Joe Wright's Atonement; and Steve Bendelack's Mr Bean's Holiday.

Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com).  Universal Studios is part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience.  Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks.  NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi.

Old Vic Productions was launched in 1993 by Sally Greene. The company’s initial production was the Olivier Award nominated Jack starring Nicol Williamson. This was followed by Ronald Harwood’s acclaimed Taking Sides and Harold Pinter’s The Hothouse. The company has produced, co-produced and collaborated on over 70 productions in the West End and beyond. Productions include Cyrano de Bergerac with Antony Sher; The Reduced Shakespeare Company; The Weir; Dublin Carol; Speed-the-Plow; Antigone; Dolly West’s Kitchen; The Car Man; A Servant of Two Masters; Far Away; Medea; Life x 3; Port Authority; The Island; The Vagina Monologues; Benefactors; Elaine Stritch At Liberty; Macbeth; Sexual Perversity in Chicago with Matthew Perry and Minnie Driver and Hamlet directed by Trevor Nunn. Old Vic Productions is a major partner in Kevin Spacey’s theatre company that is resident at the Old Vic Theatre. Old Vic Productions (Film) Limited has been recently launched to develop and invest in new British films. Its first title is the film Ruby Blue starring Bob Hoskins.

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL
Opens December 2007
Capitol Theatre
Haymarket, Sydney

‘Billy triumphs. The best British musical since Oliver!’
Daily Mirror – Peter Willis

'Brit Musical of the decade has arrived'
Daily Express – Sheridan Morley

‘The greatest British musical I’ve ever seen’
Daily Telegraph – Charles Spencer

'Billy's a whizz!
He'll lift your spirits, make you cry and send you home high with hope'
Daily Mail – Quentin Letts

'Utterly captivating'
Daily Mail – Quentin Letts

'Exhilarating'
The Guardian – Michael Billington

'Funny, touching and shamelessly enjoyable'
The Independent – Paul Taylor

‘Terrific’
The Independent – Paul Taylor

‘Outstanding. Sensational’
Daily Telegraph – Charles Spencer

‘A Unique experience in London’s theatreland’
Evening Standard – Nick Curtis

‘Breathtaking’
Daily Mail - Baz Bamigboye

‘So exhilarating the audience didn’t want it to end.
A dazzling 40-carat gem of a show’
Daily Mail – Baz Bamigboye

Billy Elliot The Musical is based on the Universal Pictures/Studio Canal Film and is produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jon Finn and Sally Greene.

Executive Producers are David Furnish and Angela Morrison

For media enquiries and images:
JP Bolton
Mob:  +61 434 600 888
Email: jp@jppr.com.au