Youngsters to perform in the West End

Young actors from West Berkshire will perform in one of the West End's oldest theatres this summer

THE dreams of three West Berkshire young actors have come true after winning a competition to perform Billy Elliot in London's West End.

Dominic McAinsh, aged 13, of Cold Ash, Madelaine Gravatt, aged 11, of Chieveley, and Lewis Cooke, aged 14, of Thatcham, were part of the cast of the Golden Ratio production of Billy Elliott at the South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell earlier this month.

The show was part of a national project called Billy Youth Theatre in which theatre companies, schools and theatre groups competed for the musical's rights to produce their version.

After six sold out shows in Bracknell, the cast of the Berkshire Billy production made the regional finals of project at Milton Keynes Theatre and have now been picked to showcase their work at the home of Billy Elliot - the Victoria Palace Theatre in London's West End on July 17.

Lewis, who plays Young Granddad and Older Billy, is looking forward to working with the producers of the West End show.

He said: “When I was younger I went for auditions for the West End Billy Elliot but I didn't quite make it so I thought I'd never perform on that stage but now I will.

“We all wanted to get there for the director, the assistants and the musical team because without them we wouldn't have been able to do it.”

Madelaine, who plays Debbie, is looking forward to performing in front of more than 1,500 people at the Victorian theatre.

“When I found out I jumped around the living room, screaming and shouting,” she said. “I've been to the theatre twice to see Billy Elliot and it's really big. I'm really nervous but excited at the same time because I've always wanted to do this.”

Dominic, who shared the role of Billy with Luke Fraser-Yates, aged 14, from Yateley, added: “It's really nice to see how far we've come. It shows how far you can get if you put in the effort.

“I've really missed the cast so it will be nice to see everyone again.”

The cast of Berkshire Billy will perform alongside 12 other groups but have been picked to perform four scenes, more than any other cast.

Producer and director of Berkshire Billy, Juliette Caton, who is director at School Of The Arts which has centres in Reading, Windsor and Bracknell, said: “I had a call from Working Title Films who are producing the event. It was just wonderful to hear the news.

“I said to the cast on the first day of rehearsals that our aim was to put on a great show and get to the West End.

“At points, the cast have been exhausted having to rehearse and deal with schools but now they have achieved their goal.

“It's a lovely, old Victorian theatre. The children will get the opportunity to see what it's like to go behind the scenes at a theatre steeped in performance history.”

Tickets for the show on July 17 sold out within twelve hours so the youngsters will be performing to a packed house.