![billy elliot the musical characters billy elliot the musical characters](https://i2-prod.walesonline.co.uk/incoming/article11480623.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/BILLY-ELLIOT-Annette-McLaughlin-Mrs-Wilkinson-and-Ballet-Girls-Photo-by-Alastair-Muir.jpg)
Eventually Billy’s Father must make the choice whether to continue with the strike or to help his son achieve his dream. His family is not supportive of this dream and try to stop him from continuing, but it is his, and his dance teacher’s job to make them come around to the idea. With time, he realises that he enjoys dancing, and so is persuaded to keep going. Whilst his father and brother are on strike against Margaret Thatcher’s rule, Billy, by accident, finds himself in a ballet lesson. The show is based around a young boy living during the Miners’ Strike in the 1980s. He has recently starred in various other musicals and a production of the ballet Swan Lake. The first ever actor to play the role, Liam Mower, also took on the role of ‘Older Billy’ in this production. It also contained an extra dance medley after the usual finale, featuring many of the old actors to have played the title character Billy, many of which are young adults now. This streamed live production of the show featured the current west end cast, including Elliot Hanna as Billy, Ruthie Henshall as Mrs Wilkinson the dance teacher and Deka Walmsley as Jackie Elliot, Billy’s father.
![billy elliot the musical characters billy elliot the musical characters](https://cf-images.ap-southeast-2.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/664969388001/ae4ab58d-5116-48bb-b203-def9719bcebf/4978adc6-33c8-4de4-821c-8a28e8ec3170/640x360/match/image.jpg)
It was later announced that the production would be released on DVD and Blu-ray for fans. Back when the musical was first released, it was immediately a hit worldwide, winning the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2009, as well as 9 other Tony Awards, and 4 Laurence Olivier Awards, so many were excited about the opportunity to see it performed live from their closest cinema. On Sunday 28th September, for the first time ever, Billy Elliot: the Musical was streamed live to cinemas across the UK.