Elliott Hanna and Demi Lee Join West End's BILLY ELLIOT as Billy and Debbie

Today, 17 July 2013, 10 year old Elliott Hanna from Liverpool, will become the thirty-fourth and youngest boy ever to play Billy Elliot in the West End. Also joining the cast will be 10 year old Demi Lee from Middlesborough, as Billy's dance teacher's daughter Debbie. Now in its ninth year at the Victoria Palace Theatre, Billy Elliot the Musical was recently awarded its fifth Olivier Award - the BBC Radio 2 Audience Award voted for by the theatregoing public. Earlier this year Billy Elliot the Musical welcomed its 4 millionth patron to the Victoria Palace Theatre where the show has now extended booking to 21 June 2014.

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.

Elliott Hanna and Demi Lee join a cast led by Anna-Jane Casey who plays Billy's dance teacher Mrs Wilkinson,Deka Walmsley who plays Billy's Dad and Kevin Wathen as Billy's brother Tony, with Howard Crossley as George, Alexander Loxton as Older Billy, Kay Milbourne as Dead Mum, Simon Ray Harvey as Mr. Braithwaite, and Ann Emery who created the role of Grandma on stage when the show premiered in 2005.

Elliott Hanna

Ten year old Elliott Hanna from Liverpool, lives with his mum, dad and sister Imogen. He started dancing at the age of four at the Nazene Danielle's Dance Dynamix in Liverpool. He started with break dancing and soon became interested in other styles of dance including ballet, tap and modern theatre. Elliott has performed locally in The Wizard of Oz and Dick Whittington and sang in the touring Abba - the Show for two years running at Liverpool's Echo Arena. At eight years old he became the youngest winner of the Janet Cram Modern Theatre Award. After coming third on Sky 1's Got to Dance, he and his dance partner Tayluer Amos, went on to perform at the Savoy Theatre as part of the Queen's Jubilee celebration. "I am really excited to be playing Billy Elliot and joining this fantastic cast. I was excited about auditioning for the role of Billy Elliot and when I was told I had the part I couldn't believe my ears. I hope all my friends from Liverpool will come and see me in the West End."

Demi Lee

Ten year old Demi Lee lives in Middlesbrough with her mum, dad and brother Lucas. Demi started dancing at the age of eight at the VAl Armstrong School of Performing Arts where she competed in local dance competitions and championships including the British Modern Championship final. Demi enjoys sport, dancing and gymnastics having previously completed in the British gymnastic finals with her school. "I am really grateful to have the opportunity to perform the part of Debbie in Billy Elliot The Musical and I am so excited about making my West End debut in such a brilliant show."

As well as Elliott Hanna, Tade Biesinger (13 years old from Utah, USA), Harrison Dowzell (13 years old fromNottinghamshire), Redmand Rance (12 years old from Fareham, Hampshire) and Ali Rasul (12 years old from Hartlepool) will continue to alternate the role of Billy. Zach Atkinson (12 years old from Manchester), Joe Massey(14 years old from South Wirrell) and Thomas Moore (11 years old from Armthorpe, Doncaster) alternate the role of Billy's best friend Michael and Dayna Dixon (11 years old from Newcastle upon Tyne), Millie Thornton (11 years old from Sunderland) as well as Demi Lee play Debbie.

Ensemble members are Craig Armstrong, David Bardsley, Paul Basleigh, Claudia Bradley, Spencer Cartwright, Lucinda Collins, Matthew Dale, Gillian Elisa, Helen French, Lee Hoy, Ruri James, Dean Maynard, Alan Mehdizadeh, David Muscat, Ryan O'Gorman, Steve Paget, Charlotte Riby, Edmund Shaw, Spencer Stafford and Mike Scott.

Productions of Billy Elliot the Musical have been staged on Broadway, as well as in Sydney, Melbourne, Chicago, Toronto and Seoul, South Korea and the show has now been seen by over 9 million people. The touring production, which began in 2010, will travel to São Paulo, Brazil, for a three week engagement in August, the first time Billy Elliot will have played in South America. Further international productions are planned including Holland and Germany.

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.

Billy Elliot the Musical is presented in London by Universal Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Tiger Aspect and is based on the Universal Pictures/ Studio Canal film.

For more information, visit: www.billyelliotthemusical.com

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