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    Meet Billy Elliot: Budapest, Hungary

    Erkel Theatre interior
    The 1819 seat Erkel Theatre, Budapest

    Billy Elliot the Musical (BETM) was first perfomed in Hungary from July 29 to August 21, 2016 at the Hungarian State Opera House, before moving to the Erkel Theatre, where it was performed from September 6 to December 31, 2016.  

    The show then went on a hiatus until the summer of 2017, when it reopened at the Erkel Theatre for a second season, from June 29 to July 16, 2017, and again from 23-27 August, 2017.  The production’s third season, also at the Erkel Theatre, ran from June 19 to July 14, 2018, and September 1-9, 2018.  

    Due to the popularity of the Hungarian show, there was a fourth and final season in 2019.  This ran from June 27-30, 2019 and September 13-22, 2019.

    The production was performed in Hungarian, with English subtitles.  It was presented by the Hungarian State Opera, and featured dancers from their ballet company.  The cast included some of Hungary’s most renowned adult actors.  When it first opened in July 2016, the director and the team at the Opera House said that they hoped that the show would be as popular in Hungary as it had been worldwide, and that it would inspire a love for dance in young audience members.  Judging by the excellent ticket sales during the production’s four seasons, it seems as if their wish has come true.

    The search to find the Hungarian Billys and Michaels started on March 7, 2015, when over 100 boys from all across Hungary turned up to the first audition.  A further 50 boys were also auditioned at a later date.  The most talented of these boys were chosen to undertake months of training until a final decision was made in January 2016.

    Eventually the potential lead candidates were narrowed to ten boys, from which the original Billys and Michaels were to be cast.  These ten were introduced at a press event at which they are shown dancing in this video clip:

    Credit: Video by AmdalaHU

    Three young actors were finally selected to originate the role of Billy in Budapest.  They were Kamill Kökény-Hámori, John Bailey McAllister and Áron Vizlendvai.

    For the 2017 season, Áron Vizlendvai was the only one of the original Billys to continue in the role.  He was joined by three new Billys – Olivér Lukács, Benedek Császár and Simon Bakonyi.

    Then for the 2018 season, Áron Vizlendvai, Olivér Lukács and Simon Bakonyi all continued to perform as Billy, and they were joined by two new Billys – Levente Puczkó-Smith and Dávid Halász.

    For the 2019 season, Levente Puczkó-Smith and Dávid Halász  both once again took on the role of Billy and joining them in the role was Torda Vass.

    On 29-Jul-2016, the day of the opening performance, the official trailer was released for the Budapest production.  It features clips of all three original Billys:

    To learn more about the Budapest Billys, click on the Billy Profiles button (below) to be taken to their detailed profiles.
    billy profiles

    To see a complete listing of the rest of the Budapest cast, just click on the Cast Information button.

    cast info

    13723979_10157225623460501_564134549880961300_o
    John Bailey McAllister (Billy), Zalán Kamarás (Michael), Éva Auksz (Mrs Wilkinson) and the Budapest BETM company dance the Finale

     Credit: Photo by Nóri Vitéz

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