Photos: Billy Elliot Gobbles Second Birthday Cake

This past Saturday (12 May 2007), hit homegrown musical Billy Elliot celebrated its second birthday at the West End’s Victoria Palace, where it’s now booking through to 20 December 2008 (See News, 19 Apr 2007).

Set against the North-eastern mining strikes of the 1980s, the musical recounts the tale of a motherless boy whose father wants him to learn to box but who instead discovers a love for ballet that leads him from secret lessons to a place at the Royal Ballet School.

Since its opening, Billy Elliot has grossed over £55 million and been seen by more than 1.5 million people. Amongst the show’s many accolades are the sweep of the UK’s Best Musical/New Musical trophies at the Evening Standard, Critics’ Circles, Whatsonstage.com and Olivier Awards. The stage production reunites the creative team behind the 2000 British film: director Stephen Daldry, writer Lee Hall and choreographer Peter Darling. The musical features an original score by pop singer-songwriter Elton John, with lyrics by Hall.

To celebrate the show’s second birthday, two of the current Billys – Oliver Taylor and Travis Yates – tucked into cake along with the ballerina girl buddies, including Mia McKenna Bruce. Photos are by Alistair Muir.

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