Cheshire schoolboy takes role in West End musical Billy Elliot

Feb 24 2010 by Claire Devine, Chester Chronicle

A SCHOOLBOY is dancing with delight at the prospect of making his West End debut.

Joe Massey, of Ellesmere Port, has been selected to play the role of Michael in the musical of Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London.

Based on the smash hit film, Billy Elliot the Musical is an inspirational story of one boy’s dream to realise his dancing ambitions against the odds.

Michael is Billy’s best friend in the show.

The Sutton Green Primary School pupil went for an open audition at the start of the year in Manchester where his talent was first spotted.

Children’s casting director Jessica Ronane said: “At the audition we thought Joe was a possible option for the role of Michael, however, he had no tap-dancing experience.

“So we set him up with some lessons and saw him a month or so later and he had come on in leaps and bounds.

“Michael is a really difficult role to cast but Joe seems to be natural at making people laugh, he has a natural comedic ability and he is very watchable.”

Joe, 10, travelled to London at the start of half-term to start rehearsals with the aim of taking over the role of Michael at the end of April.

Jessica said: “In between now and then he will be settling in to the Billy house in London, getting used to being away from home and being with all the other children.

“In the mornings he will have schooling for three hours and after lunch go into rehearsals with some weekend rehearsals nearer the start date.”

Sutton Green deputy headteacher Rick Smith said: “As a school we are obviously enormously proud of Joe’s achievements.

“He will be sorely missed by his classmates and staff.

“We wish him every success in what will be a demanding rehearsal schedule in London.”