Dancing, dreams and debuts: Inside Koorliny Art Centre’s Billy Elliot the Musical

The WA amateur premiere of Billy Elliot the Musical is set to hit the stage at Koorliny Arts Centre for the first time this year. Based on the acclaimed film about a young boy’s struggle to make his dream come true amidst the 1984 miners’ strike in Northern England, the musical features a score by Elton John alongside lyrics and a book by Lee Hall. Billy Elliot the Musical hits Koorliny Arts Centre from Friday, March 20, to Saturday, March 28, with tickets on sale now. NATASHA PAUL sat down with show director Rp van der Westhuizen and Lucas Johnson, who stars as Billy Elliot, to find out more about Koorliny Arts Centre’s special twist on the highly popular musical, the process of bringing the character of Billy to life, and their favourite Billy Elliot track. 

It’s great to chat with you today! How are you both feeling about bringing Billy Elliot the Musical to Koorliny Arts Centre for the first time?

LUCAS: I’m feeling really thrilled to bring this show to life at Koorliny because this musical is so well-known. The atmosphere here is the best because it’s a much bigger-scale production than anything I’ve done before. I’ve really enjoyed preparing for it and hope the audience enjoys watching it too.

RP: I am so excited to tell this story on the Koorliny Arts Centre stage. Audiences are really in for a wonderful time at the theatre, and the cast are spectacular. The story is so beautiful and tragic at the same time, but its message of acceptance is an important message everyone needs to hear right now.

Billy Elliot the Musical is based on the acclaimed 2000s film and has been adapted multiple times since 2005. What makes this version of Billy Elliot the Musical special? 

LUCAS: This is the first time Billy Elliot the Musical has ever been performed in WA amateur theatre, and I’m so excited to be part of it with my amazing Koorliny family! I’m really grateful to get to play my version of Billy and help bring the story to life.

RP: I think people are really keen to experience live theatre, and the magic that is created between an audience and a cast is something that can’t be replicated. Put on top of this the timeless beauty of Billy Elliot and a cast that are working incredibly hard to tell this story with care, and you have the recipe for magic to occur. This being a WA premiere, I think, is so special, because for most of our audiences we are going to their very first experience with this spectacular show, and we don’t take that for granted.

Tell us about the process of bringing the character of Billy to life onstage. What kind of personality is he? And was this challenging, exciting, or a bit of both?

LUCAS: I watched the movie and stage play a couple of times to try and understand the setting for the whole musical and what Billy and his family were experiencing. Bringing Billy’s character to life was far more challenging than the other roles I’ve played, because Billy is just such a complex and emotional character. Even with the script and stage directions, it’s been difficult figuring out what Billy would do in each situation, compared to what I would do. Learning all the dance moves and styles from scratch was another big challenge, but it’s so exciting and rewarding every time I get them right!

RP: Billy is surrounded by very fierce and feisty adults, and I think Billy has taken all the best parts of their drive and determination and channelled it into himself. He truly knows what he wants and goes after it despite the pushback from his family. His kind heart and his humour that he especially shares with Michael and his mum are truly beautiful glimpses into the sweet boy that Billy really is.

Billy Elliot the Musical features original music composed by Elton John. What is your favourite track that Billy performs, and why?

LUCAS: Definitely Electricity! It is a very strong, confident song, followed by a big dance break expressing what Billy really feels. For me, it is also the most memorable song in the entire play. Solidarity would be a close second, though, because I really like all the things happening at once.

RP: That’s such a hard question; for me, it’s a tie between the iconic Electricity and The Letter, which he sings with his mum. Both those songs somehow make me end up in tears by the time they are done, and Lucas has done an incredible job at eliciting this emotion from me every time.

Who else has been important in bringing this play to the stage? And have there been any hilarious or memorable rehearsal moments working with the cast and crew?

LUCAS: Some of the most important people helping me bring the show to life are our choreographers, Kate and Hannah, and RP, our director. The cast are super helpful too because they give me tips, cheer me on and make rehearsals really fun. Everyone works together to make the show happen. One of the funniest moments was on photoshoot night when the ballet girls were having a photo; I put on a tutu, started twirling, and someone took a picture of me spinning like that!

RP: We are truly having the best time, and every single rehearsal is filled with laughter. Our choreographer Kate Leeder, musical director Tara Oorjitham and assistant choreographer Hannah Harn have all worked tirelessly to ensure the cast are completely prepared and given the tools they need to succeed. It’s such a joy for me to work with these powerhouse women in their own right to bring this show together.

Thank you for chatting with us! As a last question, do either of you have any exciting future projects, on stage or otherwise?

LUCAS: Not much at the moment, but I’ll soon be auditioning for my school musical, and if you know of any auditions coming up, let me know! I’ve also started high school this year and am preparing for my AMEB exams for trombone and voice, so that will keep me busy. Thanks for chatting with me; it was great talking!

RP: I am heading straight into another project after Billy Elliot that I can’t really name yet, but it’s a Disney musical that I am so excited to be a part of! Not to mention the countless other artistic ventures always on the go, I truly love being able to make theatre! There are also some incredible shows coming up at Koorliny this year, so don’t miss them!

Billy Elliot the Musical hits Koorliny Arts Centre from Friday, March 20, to Saturday, March 28, 2026. Tickets are on sale now from koorliny.com.au