Billy Elliott the Musical is celebrating five outstanding years in the West End and to mark the occassion, producers are offering schools and youth theatres the chance to stage their own version of the award winning show.

First directed by Stephen Daldry in 2000 as a film, the story was an instant success. Audiences were transfixed with young Billy's vision of being a professional ballet dancer, battling to achieve his unlikely dream in a northern working-class community living through the depression of the 1984 miner's strike.

The musical version has struck a chord with audiences in London, Australia and New York winning a string of gongs, including 10 Tony Awards.

Students of all ages will now be inspired to follow in Billy's dreams, with the opportunity for youth groups and schools to stage a scaled down adaptation of Billy Elliott. The creative team behind both the film and stage production have specially developed the script for young performers.

Each school will be asked to record their production, the outcome of which could see them travelling to London to perform in a special Billy Youth Theatre West End Gala in front of an audience of 1,500.

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