Theatre News

Ann Emery Returns to Billy Elliot in New Cast, from 14 Nov

| London's West End |

14 October 2011

Gillian Bevan and Deka Walmsley will join the West End cast of Billy Elliot as Mrs Wilkinson and Dad from 14 November, with Ann Emery returning play Grandma, the role she originated in 2005 and played until 2010.

Also joining the new principal cast at the Victoria Palace are Michael Peavoy (Tony), Sean Kearns (George), and Simon Ray Harvey (Mr Braithwaite).

Billy Elliot follows a young aspiring dancer who pursues his dream behind his family’s back during the 1984-85 miners’ strike in the North East of England. Based on the Oscar nominated film, Lee Hall‘s stage adaptation features music by Elton John and is directed by Stephen Daldry with choreography by Peter Darling.

From 14 November Ryan Collinson, Josh Baker and Adam Vesperman will alternate the role of Billy; Reece Barrett, Connor Kelly, Connor Lawson and Joe Massey alternate the role of Billy’s best friend Michael; and Francesca Mango and Emily Williams will alternate the role of Debbie.

Additional casting includes Kay Milbourne (Dead Mum), Barnaby Meredith (Older Billy) and ensemble members Craig Armstrong, David Bardsley, Romy Baskerville, Paul Basleigh, James Butcher, Spencer Cartwright, Jaymz Denning, Caroline Deverill, Helen French, Sergio Giacomelli, Kieran Jae, Connor McAllister, Steve Paget, Ryan Pidgen, and Dan Reilly and swings Alan Bradshaw, Dawn Buckland, Lucinda Collins, Ian Gareth Jones and Mike Scott.

Ann Emery‘s other stage credits include Betty Blue Eyes at the Novello Theatre, Hard Times at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, Martin Guerre at the Prince Edward Theatre and Cats at the New London Theatre.

Gillian Bevan recently performed in Road Show at the Menier Chocolate Factory, and other stage credits include Relatively Speaking at the Watermill Theatre, Billy Liar at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Grand Hotel at the Donmar Warehouse, In the Midnight Hour at the Young Vic, The Boys From Sycracuse at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, and she was in the original London cast of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies at the Shaftesbury Theatre.

Deka Walmsley originated a role in Lee Hall‘s The Pitmen Painters which recently opened at the West End’s Duchess Theatre. His other theatre credits include Cyrano De Bergerac at the Bristol Old Vic, Enemies at the Almeida Theatre and Playing with Fire at the National Theatre.

Billy Elliot is currently booking at the Victoria Palace Theatre until 15 December 2012.

– Natalie Generalovich