Express & Star

Black Country lad to star in Billy Elliot ballet at Birmingham Hippodrome

A young Black Country star is set to grace the Birmingham Hippodrome as it welcomes the first ever UK tour of smash-hit musical Billy Elliot next month.

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Lewis Smallman, from West Bromwich, will take on a shared role of Billy Elliot at the show which runs from March 8 to April 29.

Star Lewis hails from West Bromwich

The musical, which is a winner of 10 Tony and five Olivier awards, will hit the Birmingham Hippodrome stage for the first time ever.

Lewis, who trained at Arabesque Dance Academy and Renaissance Arts in Birmingham, has previously appeared in the English Youth Ballet's Swan Lake and as Kurt in The Sound of Music at Sutton Town Hall.

See a trailer for the show here:

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The 12-year-old is also a keen gymnast with Sandwell Flyers Gymnastic Academy.

Seen by almost 11 million people worldwide, the musical is set in a northern mining town against the background of the 1984/85 miners' strike and follows Billy's journey from boxing to ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and whole community and changes his life forever.

Sharing the role of Billy are Adam Abbou, Matthew Lyons, Haydn May and local boy Lewis.

There will be a signed performance on April 18 at 7.30pm, a captioned performance on April 20 at 7.30pm and an audio-described performance on April 22 at 2.30pm. Tickets are priced from £25 at www.birminghamhippodrome.com or by calling 0844 338 5000.

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