Review: Billy Elliot the Musical at Sunderland Empire Theatre

Invited: Reviewed by Joanna Andrews on October 10, 2026

In case you’ve been living under a rock and have somehow never heard of Billy Elliot, the story follows a young boy with an extraordinary gift who discovers an unlikely passion for ballet against the turbulent backdrop of the 1980’s miners’ strike in County Durham.

It’s a story of ambition, adversity, community and the courage to be different. Even though it’s a musical that has been running for a long time, the performance I saw at Sunderland Empire tells me that this is a story that has lost none of its magic.

The show opens with solidarity in every sense of the word, not least through the appropriately named number Solidarity, bringing together the miners, their families and the wider community. We are transported to a working-class County Durham mining village, where tensions are running high and the fight for livelihoods forms the backdrop to one young boy’s extraordinary journey.

At this point, I simply must give a huge shout-out to the phenomenal Lesley Joseph, who takes on the role of Grandma. I genuinely had no idea this remarkable woman had quite so much energy! She was impeccable from start to finish, bringing warmth, wit and an irresistible spark to every scene. Her musical number was a particular highlight, and quite frankly, every time she stepped onto the stage, she lit it up.

Jack Bandeira, playing Billy’s older brother Tony, delivered a performance brimming with intensity, comic relief, pathos and heart. His ability to shift effortlessly between anger, vulnerability and humour was wonderful to watch. And, being from the same neck of the woods myself, I couldn’t help but feel a little local pride at seeing such a superb performer commanding the stage.

And then, of course, there’s Billy’s father, played by Deka Walmsley. We watch a tough, rigid, working-class miner, a man firmly set in his ways, gradually begin to question everything he thought he knew. His transformation is quite extraordinary, and the character development unfolds before our very eyes.

From a father struggling to understand his son’s passion to a man willing to challenge his own beliefs and make extraordinary sacrifices for his child’s happiness, the journey is both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

It’s a role that requires tremendous emotional depth, and I genuinely couldn’t fault the performance. Every moment of frustration, vulnerability, pride and unconditional love was portrayed with such conviction that we felt the character growing before us. Absolutely beautifully played.

But the star of the show, beyond a shadow of a doubt, was William Gurney in the title role of Billy Elliot. Billy is a character that so many of us have grown up with, and a role that has been interpreted by countless talented young performers over the years. It’s no small undertaking to step into those dancing shoes, but William did so with astonishing confidence and ability.

His accent was flawless from start to finish, his singing exceptional, and his dancing? Well, his dancing made me cry on more than one occasion.

There is something truly extraordinary about watching a young performer communicate so much through movement alone. William possessed not only the technical ability required for such a demanding role, but also the emotional maturity to make every step, every gesture and every moment count.

His relationship with Mrs Wilkinson, played by Annette McLaughlin, was beautifully realised. She brought sincerity and warmth to the role of the well-meaning, albeit rather rough-around-the-edges, community centre dance teacher who recognises Billy’s potential. Their chemistry was entirely believable, and the tenderness of their final moments together had my mascara running all the way down my cheeks.

And then came one of the most special moments of the entire production. Liam Mower, one of the original Billy Elliots from the musical’s 2005 premiere, returned to the stage as Billy’s older self, joining William Gurney for an utterly breathtaking dance sequence.

Past and present came together in a moment of theatrical magic. My heart was in my throat.

The stamina, the strength, the spectacle and the sheer beauty of the choreography were visually exceptional. It was one of those rare moments in theatre when you find yourself completely transfixed, almost forgetting to breathe.

A special congratulations must also go to Harper Etienne, who was an absolute scene-stealer in the role of Billy’s best friend, Michael. With brilliant diction, impeccable comic timing and an infectious stage presence, Harper delivered every moment with confidence and charm. Yet beneath the humour was all the wonderful childhood innocence that made us fall in love with these characters in the original film. A delightful performance from a young talent with a very bright future.

That’s not to say the evening was entirely without its challenges. There were a couple of minor technical hiccups along the way, but I have to applaud the professionalism of every single performer involved.

The cast handled these moments with absolute aplomb, never missing a beat, never missing a note, and ensuring that the audience remained completely riveted. If anything, it served as a reminder of just how skilled and adaptable live performers must be.

There was also something particularly poignant about seeing Billy Elliot at Sunderland Empire. As we were reminded at the beginning of the evening, Sunderland is a city that understands the communities, the history and the spirit at the heart of this story. In so many ways, it felt like bringing Billy home.

And perhaps that’s why the production resonated quite so deeply. Billy Elliot is about far more than ballet. It’s about family, sacrifice, identity, determination and finding the courage to pursue something extraordinary, even when the world around you seems determined to stand in your way.

I woke up the following morning still thinking about how much I’d enjoyed it. Billy Elliot the Musical runs at Sunderland Empire until 28 November 2026. Tickets are available from atgtickets.com

Wherever you are, buy a ticket. Make the journey. Experience it for yourself. Because theatre doesn’t get much more moving, more exhilarating or more memorable than this.

The role of Billy is also played by Spencer Collins, Noah Mannion and Rafferty Smale.