Redmand Rance is to become the 31st talented youngster to don his ballet shoes and electrify audiences at the Victoria Palace theatre when he joins the cast of Billy Elliot The Musical this week.
The 11-year-old from Fareham in Hampshire will be joined by 10-year-old Millie Thornton, who will take on the role of Debbie Wilkinson in the hit musical about a young boy from a northern mining town who goes against his expected path in life to follow his dream of becoming a ballet dancer.
Rance, who made his West End debut earlier this year as young Cosmo in Singin’ In The Rain, will be pursuing his own dream when he takes on the new part, saying: “When I was performing as part of Billy Youth Theatre, I thought how amazing it would be to play the role for real in the West End and now I am. It’s a dream come true!”
Thornton from Grangetown in Sunderland, who, like Rance, took part in the Billy Youth Theatre project, said: “[I] can’t believe how lucky I am to now be playing Debbie in the West End production.”
Now in its eighth year, Billy Elliot The Musical, which is brought to the stage by the talented duo behind the Oscar-nominated film Stephen Daldry and Lee Hall, features music by legendary songster Elton John and is currently booking until December 2013.
There are still tickets available for Billy Elliot The Musical and a host of other fantastic family shows through Kids Week, our annual initiative offering one free child’s ticket for every full priced ticket purchased, which runs until the end of August.