Billy Elliot The Musical- The Synopsis

Act I (song titles in bold)  BOOK BILLY ELLIOT TICKETS

The stage is set in County Durham in the north east of England, during the 1984-85 miners' strike ("The Stars Look Down"), and motherless eleven-year-old Billy inadvertently somehow finds his way out of his boxing practice and as the only boy in a ballet class run by Mrs. Wilkinson and becomes attracted to the grace of the dance ("Shine"). While both his brother, father and his neighbours are all on strike and clash with riot police, Billy continues to take dance lessons, all the time keeping it a secret from his family. The secret is at first easily kept, as the only person home at the time is his grandmother, who reveals her abusive relationship with her dead husband and that she too used to love to dance, which made everything all right ("Grandma's Song"). Billy then forms a friendship with Mrs. Wilkinson’s daughter Debbie.

The boxing coach informs Billy's dad that he hasn't been to training in months, and Mr. Elliot erupts, realising Billy has spent the money he gave his son for boxing on something else ("Solidarity"), a number which intersperses the violent, riotous reality with the girls peacefully practicing their ballet routines in a fictional but tranquil world. When Mr. Elliot discovers where his son has been and what he's been doing, he storms into the ballet class and forbids Billy from attending lessons. Mrs. Wilkinson, who is supportive of Billy and recognizes his talent, privately suggests he come to the studio for free solo lessons, and Billy improves to a level way beyond that of the rest of the class. Eventually, she encourages him to attend an audition for the Royal Ballet School in London. Meanwhile, Billy's best friend Michael is beginning to understand his homosexuality. He persuades Billy to have fun with him by dressing up in women's clothing and disdaining the restrictive inhibitions of their working class roots ("Expressing Yourself"). Billy continues to take private ballet lessons, bonding with Mrs. Wilkinson and developing an impressive dance routine for his big audition ("Dear Billy (Mum's Letter)/Born to Boogie"). Meanwhile, Billy's father and brother Tony are engaged in near daily battles with riot police that often turn bloody. They struggle to support the family with very little in strike and union pay, a very difficult task that goes on for the best part of a year.

When the day of the audition at the Royal Ballet School comes, Mrs. Wilkinson arrives to pick up Billy. However, his family and some members of the community have gathered at the Elliot home, and she is forced to reveal that she has been privately teaching Billy ballet in preparation for this very day. This news upsets Billy’s father and Tony, who pushes the boy around, calls him names and embarrasses him in front of everyone. This setback sends Billy into a rage, and for nearly a year he stays away from everything related to ballet and dance ("Angry Dance").

Act II

At Christmas time in the community centre, the children put on a show disparaging Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who is seen as the antagonist by the miners ("Merry Christmas, Maggie Thatcher"). Billy's father gets very drunk and sings an old folk song that elicits memories of his late wife and the usually stoic man leaves in tears ("Deep Into the Ground"). Left alone with Billy in the Community Centre, Michael reveals he has feelings for him, but Billy explains that although he likes ballet, he is definately not gay. Nonetheless, he allows Michael to give him a kiss on the cheek. Michael leaves, and Billy feels suddenly feels like dancing for the first time since the day of the aborted audition ("Swan Lake"). From the door, his father watches Billy's dance routine and becomes so overcome with emotion, he goes to Mrs. Wilkinson’s house to discuss Billy’s prospects as a dancer. She confirms Billy's talent, but is not sure whether or not he would get into the elite Royal Ballet School. They discuss the cost of tuition, an amount well beyond Mr. Elliot's means. He leaves questioning his working-class pride and concerned about the future that coalmining has for his boys.

Mr. Elliot decides the only way that he can help Billy is by returning to work. When Tony sees his father cross the picket line, he becomes infuriated and the two argue over what is more important: unity of the coal miners or helping Billy to achieve his dream ("He Could Be A Star"). The argument eventually comes to blows and Billy is accidentally hit. One by one, the miners side with Billy's quest and offer the boy their strike pay, but Billy still can’t afford the bus fare to London. A strike-breaker then offers him hundreds of pounds from his wage, and an enraged Tony attempts to shun his efforts, but Billy accepts the offer nonetheless. Now drained of hope, Tony dismally ponders whether there's a point for anything anymore, and runs off.

Billy and his father arrive at the Royal Ballet School for the audition. While Mr. Elliot waits outside, a very upper-crust Londoner highlights the contrast between the Elliots and the the other applicants families. Mr. Elliot meets a dancer with a thick Northern accent. The dancer confesses to Mr Elliot that his father does not support his ballet career and he sharply advises him to "get behind" his boy. Billy nervously finishes the audition with a sinking feeling that he did not do well. As he packs his gear, he lets his emotions overwhelm him, and he punches another auditioner in the face. The audition committee reminds Billy of the strict standards of the school. They have received an enthusiastic letter from Mrs. Wilkinson explaining Billy's situationand background, and they ask him to describe what he feels when he dances. Billy responds with a heartfelt declaration of his passion ("Electricity").

Back in County Durham, the Elliots resume life as usual. Billy receives a letter from the school and, as a joke, informs everyone he wasn't accepted. Tony retrieves the letter from the waste bin and discovers that his brother was indeed accepted. At the same time, the miners have decided to return to work resigned to the inevitable fact that they are a part of what is a dying industry and a withering community, but take some comfort that at least Billy will rise from the ashes to greatness. Billy says goodbye to the miners ("Once We Were Kings"), Mrs. Wilkinson (thanking her for everything she did to help him) and Debbie, who will miss him ("Dear Billy (Billy's Reply)"). Michael arrives to say goodbye, and Billy gives him a friendly kiss on the cheek ("Finale"), leaving his past behind him and with a bright future ahead of him.

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