Redmand Rance & Millie Thornton Join London’s Billy Elliot

Redmand Rance and Millie Thornton have joined the West End production of Billy Elliot as Billy and Debbie, respectively. Featuring music by Elton John, a book and lyrics by Lee Hall and directed by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot is currently playing at the Victoria Palace Theatre.

Rance joins Harris Beattie, Ryan Collinson, Harrison Dowzell and Kaine Ward, who alternate the role of Billy. Thornton joins Dayna Dixon and Macy Stesiak, who alternate the role of Debbie. The cast of Billy Elliot also includes Reece Barrett, Connor Kelly, Joe Massey, Gillian Bevan, Deka Walmsley, Michael Peavoy, Ann Emery, Sean Kearns, Kay Milbourne, Simon Ray Harvey, Barnaby Meredith, and ensemble members Craig Armstrong, David Bardsley, Paul Basleigh, Alan Bradshaw, Dawn Buckland, James Butcher, Spencer Cartwright, Lucinda Collins, Jaymz Denning, Gillian Elisa, Helen French, Sergio Giacomelli, Kieran Jae, Ian Gareth Jones, Connor McAllister, Steven Paget, Steph Parry, Ryan Pidgen, Dan Reilly and Mike Scott.

Based on the 2000 film of the same name, Billy Elliot is the story of one boy’s dream to realize his ambitions to become a ballet dancer against all odds. Set in the North East of England against the backdrop of the 1984 miners’ strike, Billy secretly pursues his passion for dance to avoid the disapproval of his struggling family. Billy Elliot originally opened in London in 2005, and opened at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre on November 13, 2008. The production closed January 8 after 1312 performances.

Rance made his West End debut in Singin’ in the Rain and played the title role in the Billy Youth Theatre production of Billy Elliot. Thornton’s theater credits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the Billy Youth Theatre production of Billy Elliot, The King and I and White Christmas.