One of the lovelier aspects of the West End’s hit musical Billy Elliot is that the show rotates a group of young actors in the lead, thus allowing them to display their talents to appreciative audiences every night. In that same sharing spirit, we’ve made this particular installment of our regular Ask a Star feature into a very special Billy Elliot bonanza, featuring the complete quartet of the show’s current stars. They may be young, but—boy—are they experienced… See if the Billys answered your question!
Travis Yates
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Music lover Travis Yates is a veteran thesp having appeared on TV in Heartbeat, Dalziel and Pascoe and Doctors and on stage in Oldham and Manchester. His dance teacher Miss Tymcyshyn at first said: “If he doesn’t like dancing he will ask to leave within the month, and if he loves dancing he will never question it again.” We salute your foresight, Miss Tymcyshyn.
From Owen: What’s it like backstage?
Travis responds: It is always really busy. There are lots of people working to make the show happen.
From Scarlett: When you are not performing or rehearsing for the show, what do you like to do in your spare time?
Travis responds: I really like to watch films, play computer games or read.
From Kate: Do you have a girlfriend?
Travis responds: Yes I do, but I’m not saying who it is!
From Gillian: Are there any dancers that you particularly admire?
Travis responds: When I saw Movin’ Out I thought the American male dancer was really good, and Adam Garcia, who was in Wicked until recently, is really good.
From Richard: Are you surprised at the amount of support of the show from so many fans around the world?
Travis responds: Yes, it is really surprising. I met a lady from Sri Lanka not long ago, and she wrote me a really nice letter.
From Liam: What advice would you give to aspiring performers?
Travis responds: Don’t give up, keep trying.
From Jenny: What do your mates think of you being in a West End show?
Travis responds: My friends have mainly got used to it now as I’ve been in the show quite a while. A few of them have been down to see me in the show.
From Luc: What was the first thing you did after you found out that you got the role of Billy? Did you think that you would get the role?
Travis responds: It didn’t really sink in for ages that I’d got the part. I was quite shocked. My audition process was quite long so towards the end I started to think that it might not happen, so I was really happy when I found out.
Layton Williams
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Layton Williams has always loved to dance and sing. He attended Carol Godby’s theatre workshop, but he’d never done ballet or tap before Billy Elliot and so was “thrilled” to get through his intensive training for it at the Academy in Leeds. When he landed the role of Billy he was, he says, “ecstatic.”
From Elizabeth: What made you want the part of Billy, and what did you have to do at the audition?
Layton responds: I just loved to act and sing then I saw the article in the paper and just went for it.
From Estella: What do you do on your days off?
Layton responds: I just try to relax. I read or play computer games usually. Sometimes we go out.
From Sean: What’s your favourite movie and your favourite songs?
Layton responds: My favourite films are the Harry Potter series. My favourite song at the moment is "Wait a Minute" by The PussyCat Dolls.
From Chloe: What’s it like having fans and getting asked for your autograph?
Layton responds: It’s really weird but I’m starting to get used to it. It is quite fun though!
From Richard: Are you surprised at the amount of support of the show from so many fans around the world?
Layton responds: Yes I’m very surprised. It’s really nice to know that so many people out there are fans of the show
From Liam: What advice would you give to aspiring performers?
Layton responds: Just work hard and don’t stop reaching for your goal until you get there. It will pay off.
From Jenny: What do your mates think of you being in a West End show?
Layton responds: They think it’s really cool.
From Luc: What was the first thing you did after you found out that you got the role of Billy? Did you think that you would get the role?
Layton responds: I rang all my friends and family, I never dreamed I’d get in!
Oliver Taylor
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Oliver Taylor is a mid-associate of the Royal Ballet. He competed in the RAD Fonteyn Nureyev Young Dancers Competition for Great Britain and the Channel Islands and came first in his age group. Before Billy Elliot, he appeared in local theatre productions of The Snowman, The Nutcracker and Coppélia.
From Jon: What is your favourite song or songs, not including Billy Elliot songs?
Oliver responds: I’ve got lots of different types of music on my iPod, but I really like easy listening music where I can close my eyes and pretend I’m on holiday! I like Eva Cassidy.
From Caroline: Being very ballet orientated, do you wish to fulfill a career in musical theatre or ballet?
Oliver responds: I’d really like to keep my options open and do as much as possible. I really enjoy musical theatre, but I’d like to keep up with all my dance especially ballet; as well as singing and acting.
From Lauren: Were you nervous when you first find out you had been chosen to play Billy Elliot?
Oliver responds: I was very excited. I was really looking forward to getting started and didn’t really feel nervous. I didn’t know how hard we would have to train!
From Michael: Do you want to be a star of the stage when you get older?
Oliver responds: Yes, I really hope I get the opportunity to keep performing. I’d like to do as many different things as possible e.g. film, TV etc as well as theatre, and I hope I get the chance.
From Richard: Are you surprised at the amount of support of the show from so many fans around the world?
Oliver responds: Yes, it’s always amazing to hear where everyone comes from and we get such a lot of support from the audiences. I met a school group that had come over from Greece once!
From Liam: What advice would you give to aspiring performers?
Oliver responds: Be determined and never give up. Work hard/play hard.
From Jenny: What do your mates think of you being in a West End show?
Oliver responds: My friends are all really supportive. They don’t treat me any differently; I don’t think some of them really understand what I’m doing.
From Luc: What was the first thing you did after you found out that you got the role of Billy? Did you think that you would get the role?
Oliver responds: I was really happy. We told all my friends and family and had a few people over to celebrate.
Corey Snide
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Corey Snide is a New Yorker who began dancing at the age of three and trained in tap, jazz, ballet, street dance, and contemporary at Eleanor’s School of Dance. He has taken part in competitions all over the U.S., winning many titles and awards.
From Abi: How did you master the Geordie accent?! Did you/do you still find it hard?
Corey responds: I had specialist dialect training and spent time listening to the other cast members who have Geordie accents.
From Gary: What is your favourite part of the show?
Corey responds: I really like Dream Ballet and Electricity. Dancing is just something I love to do.
From Lottie: If you are still suitable for the role, will you switch to the Broadway production of Billy Elliot?
Corey responds: If the opportunity came up, it would be fantastic.
From Ellen: As an American, what is the hardest thing for you being a Billy in London?
Corey responds: It is really hard being away from home and my family.
From Richard: Are you surprised at the amount of support of the show from so many fans around the world?
Corey responds: Yes, because so many people come to watch it from all over.
From Liam: What advice would you give to aspiring performers?
Corey responds: Just go for your dreams and don’t give up.
From Jenny: What do your mates think of you being in a West End show?
Corey responds: They think it is very cool!
From Luc: What was the first thing you did after you found out that you got the role of Billy? Did you think that you would get the role?
Corey responds: I danced all around the dance studio when I found out! I was really hoping that I would get it and I’m so glad to be here.