Review: Billy Elliot

Palace Theatre, Manchester

LIKE a gritty northern drama but oozing class from every pore of its working class roots, Billy Elliot raises the (dance) bar from the very first scene.

It is 1984 and the country is facing its biggest national strike in history after Margaret Thatcher's government announces pit closures.

Defiant miners take to the picket lines as bitter confrontations with police become a daily battle.

Against this backdrop of social and economic upheaval is 11-year-old Billy, who swaps boxing for ballet classes despite living in a masculine-dominated world following the death of his mum two years earlier.

Persuaded to audition for the Royal Ballet Company by his nicotine-addicted dance teacher Mrs Wilkinson (the role made famous by Julie Walters in the multi award-winning 2000 film version but played brilliantly by Annette McLaughlin here), Billy has to fight for his future against his County Durham community's small-town mentality.

On its first visit to Manchester after debuting in the West End more than a decade ago, this musical is certainly worth the wait.

One or two accent slips aside, all of the cast are strong - not least Warrington's Martin Walsh who is thoroughly believable and compelling as Billy's dad as he struggles to face up to his son's dream of becoming a dancer.

But it's the children who really shine here. Four young actors alternate as Billy, and on this press night it was gymnast Lewis Smallman who took the lead effortlessly, leaving every member of the audience mesmerised throughout his electrifying performance of Electricity and worthy of a standing ovation alone were it not also for his heartwarmingly funny scenes with Samuel Torpey as 'cross dressing' best friend Michael.

Featuring music from Elton John, the direction of Stephen Daldry and stunning choreography from Peter Darling, Billy Elliot is an exceptional masterclass in how to keep an audience captivated for an almost three-hour long show.

Real, raw and poignant, you will laugh, cry and then laugh and cry some more.

Toe-tappingly brilliant.