Note: Fergus Paterson’s final performance as Billy in Billy Elliot the Musical (BETM) in Canberra, Australia, presented by the Free Rain Theatre Company, was on May 4, 2024. The production is being staged at the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre (The Q).
Debuts: October 13, 2023 (Newcastle, Australia), April 9, 2024 (Canberra, Australia)
Total Performances as Billy: 16 (Newcastle, Australia = 4) (Canberra, Australia = 12) No partial shows
Fergus Paterson was 13 years old when he debuted as Billy in The Very Popular Theatre Company’s production of BETM at the Civic Theatre in Newcastle. He is from Avoca Beach.
Fergus began dance and drama when he was seven years old and performed in his first musical a year later when he was eight. He now also takes dance classes four days per week and has weekly singing lessons. Fergus saw Hugh Jackman perform live in 2019 and this experience has inspired him to want to be a performer himself when he is older.
Fergus has a lot of experience on stage, having performed in over ten musicals, primarily with Gosford Musical Society. Most recently (July 2023) he played the role of ‘Pabbie’ in their production of Frozen Jr.
Very Popular Theatre Company, Newcastle
After auditioning for the Very Popular Theatre Company production of BETM in February 2023, Fergus was one of two young boys to be cast in the lead role of Billy. As the production had collaborated with the National College of Dance, Fergus then spent the next few months attending ‘Billy School’ there. This consisted of an intense dance and singing programme to prepare him for the role. A typical week involved attending the college for 3 hours of ballet training, an hour of acrobatics training and 2 hours of tap training plus singing lessons on top of this.
Fergus then joined the rest of the cast when full company rehearsals began in July. Fergus’s debut performance as Billy on 13-Oct-2023 makes him the 346th young actor worldwide to play the role in a professional, regional or community theatre production of the musical.
Free Rain Theatre Company, Canberra
Just two months after Fergus took his final bow in Newcastle, it was announced that he would once again take to the stage as Billy, this time in Canberra. This production is presented by the Free Rain Theatre Company and the show will be performed at the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre (The Q) from April 9 to May 5, 2024. Also joining Fergus in Canberra from the Newcastle production is Charlie Murphy who will be reprising his role as Michael.
For more information about Fergus Paterson visit:
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