Bradley Perret & Freddie Butterfield to Join West End’s Billy Elliot as BFFs Billy and Michael

The West End production of Billy Elliot is welcoming a new ballet boy and flamboyant friend into its ranks! Bradley Perret will become the 35th boy to play Billy Elliot in London, and Freddie Butterfield will join the cast as Billy’s best buddy Michael beginning November 13. Both boys will make their West End debuts in the hit musical. Directed by Stephen Daldry and featuring music by Elton John and a book and lyrics by Lee Hall, Billy Elliot is currently playing at the Victoria Palace Theatre.

Perrett, who hails from Juan les Pins, France, will be the first French-born boy to play the title role. He began dancing at the age of five at L’Ecole de Spectacle, has performed at the Palais des Festivals, Cannes and won second prize in an international modern jazz competition at L’Atelier Dance school. He is 11 years old.

Butterfield, also 11 years old, is from West Yorkshire. His regional theater credits include Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan, Les Miserables and The King and I. His TV appearances include Eternal Law and Gigglebiz.

In addition to Perret and Butterfield, Lewis Fernee, Joseph MacDonald, Billy Marlow and Max Willis will also join the cast, alternating as Small Boys. Perret will join Elliott Hanna, Redmand Rance and Ali Rasul, who will alternate the role of Billy. Butterfield will join Zak Baker and Zach Atkinson, who will alternate the role of Michael. Billy Elliot also stars Anna-Jane Casey as Mrs Wilkinson, Deka Walmsley as Dad, Kevin Wathen as Tony, Ann Emery as Grandma and Howard Crossley as George.

Based on the Oscar-nominated film of the same name, Billy Elliot tells the inspirational story of one boy’s dream to realize his ambitions against the odds. Set against the backdrop of the historic mid-1980s miners’ strike, Billy pursues his passion for dance secretly to avoid the disapproval of his struggling family.