Fact Sheets & Video - Sydney

"Inside every one of us is a special talent waiting to come out. The trick is finding it."

After resounding success in London's West End, Billy Elliot The Musical has arrived in Australia to deliver a compelling, heart-warming and feel-good celebration of a young boy's dream in a tale of triumph over adversity.

Australia is the second country in the world to have the opportunity to experience Director Stephen Daldry's full West End production of Billy Elliot The Musical. It is due to open its Australian premiere at the oldest theatre in New South Wales, Sydney's Capitol Theatre, on December 13, 2007, with the first public performance held on November 13, 2007.

After an extensive six-month search which saw three thousand applications, and with 1,000 boys being called to meet for an audition, four Australian boys were selected to share the lead role. Aged between 13 and 14 years, the four boys who will alternate the title role of Billy are Lochlan Denholm (Melbourne), Rhys Kosakowski (Newcastle), Rarmian Newton (Melbourne) and Nick Twiney (Sydney). With rehearsals now in full swing, the musical is uniquely staged around the particular talents of each individual "Billy" so that when fully trained, each one will perform across a range of disciplines. This includes tap, ballet, singing and acting for a full two-and-a-half hour show to over 1750 people a night. The four young Aussie "Billys" provided The Great Outdoors with a behind the scenes look at their rehearsals, and during a break headed to one of the coolest places around - the Sydney Aquarium.

Reputed to be one of the of the largest aquariums in the world and ranking with other leading aquariums such as Monterey in the USA and Osaka in Japan, the Sydney Aquarium has over 12,000 Australian aquatic animals with 650 all-Australian species. Awestruck by the oceanarium exhibits, the "Billys" take the opportunity to get their hands wet in the interactive touch tanks with some sea stars and sea slugs, plus they feed some baby Port Jackson sharks. Meanwhile the "all natural" Seal Sanctuary allows the "Billys" to get up close to the seals, an exhibit that features a two million litre tank where the water is pumped and filtered directly from Sydney Harbour to create a natural environment.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Sofitel Wentworth Sydney- Special Billy Elliot package, From: $554 a night. Includes two A-Reserve tickets to Billy Elliot The Musical at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney. Valid to 30/6/08. For further information, call: 1300 855 975

Prices correct at 10/8/07. Prices include surcharges, fees & taxes, subject to fluctuation. Conditions apply.

Sydney Aquarium- Entry: $28.50 adults, $14.50 kids. For more information, call: (02) 8251 7800 or visit www.sydneyaquarium.com.au

Billy Elliot The Musical- Tickets from: $109.90 A-reserve per person, $99.90 B-reserve per person. For tickets call 1300 552 290. The Capitol Theatre Box Office (02) 9320 5000 Or go to www.ticketmaster.com.au or

www.billyelliotthemusical.com.au