Melbourne’s theatre year began in spectacular form with the official opening of Billy Elliot The Musical. Adapted for the stage from the 2000 film of the same name, the story revolves around Billy Elliot, a young boy coming to terms with his passion for dance in a traditional patriarchal mining society of Northern England.

The Australian cast employs four different dancers to play the role of Billy ([Rhys Kosakowski, Nick Twiney, Lochlan Denholm and Michael Dameski); the role is intensely physical and much of the drama of the musical is demonstrated through dance rather than the conventional music theatre means of action through song.

The young actors are backed by a strong cast of dancers and performers, including Joshua Horner, who plays the adult Billy, and the very talented team that alternates the role of Michael (Scott Everleigh, Thomas Doherty, Landen Hale Brown and Joel Slater), his cross-dressing friend who is coming to terms with his homosexuality and attraction to Billy.

Genevieve Lemon plays the role of Billy’s dance teacher, who recognises his talent once he inadvertently joins her class and encourages him to continue, despite being mocked for his dance ambition by his father and friends.

In what could have been a very camp production – the music was provided by Elton John, after all – Billy Elliot is a moving and dramatic coming of age story that touches seriously on the issue of traditional masculine roles in society.

On the back of the international success of Wicked, which continues to draw large crowds in Melbourne, the musical is well and truly back in fashion. Billy Elliot is promising a lucrative if limited season, having already won Best Musical at Sydney’s Theatre Awards in 2008 and seen by over 2.2 million people the world over. It is sure to delight local audiences with its captivating choreography, stunning sets and talented cast, combining to provide an insight into the remarkable strength of the human spirit in times of despair.

Billy Elliot is Playing at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne until March. Tickets available through Ticketek.