Billy Elliot tour releases first-look photos and dates to February 2028
The UK and Ireland tour of Billy Elliot the Musical has released its first-look production photos, and its schedule now runs into 2028. The pictures were taken by Tristram Kenton, WhatsOnStage reported on 11 November 2026. Rafferty Smale plays Billy, the young boy at the centre of the story.
The musical is set in a northern town during the miners' strike of 1984 and 1985. Lee Hall wrote the book and lyrics, and Elton John composed the music. Stephen Daldry directed the original production and Peter Darling choreographed it. The show's official website says it has been seen by more than 12 million people across five continents and has won more than 85 awards worldwide.
The tour is currently playing Sunderland Empire until 28 November 2026. It then moves to the Palace Theatre in Manchester from 2 December 2026 to 9 January 2027, followed by Edinburgh Playhouse from 19 January to 6 February 2027.
The biggest date on the list is the West End. The production will play the Adelphi Theatre from 12 February to 31 July 2027. A West End theatre is one of the large commercial houses in London's theatre district. The official website bills the run as a 25-week limited season. WhatsOnStage describes it as the show's first West End return in more than 10 years.
After London, the tour heads to Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff from 10 to 28 August 2027. It then travels to Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin from 14 September to 9 October 2027, and the Alhambra in Bradford from 19 October to 6 November 2027. The final date announced so far is Bristol Hippodrome, from 1 to 26 February 2028.
The tour is directed by Simon Pollard. Jeroen Luiten is the associate choreographer, and Martin Koch is responsible for musical supervision and orchestrations. Those roles keep the staging, dance and music in line with the original production, which first opened in London.
For audiences, the new photos give the first look at the cast and set before the tour reaches its new venues. For theatre fans in Greater Manchester, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Dublin, Bradford and Bristol, the dates are the thing to note. Anyone planning a trip to see the West End season will have a clear run of months to plan around.
