Note: Kamill’s final show as Billy in the Hungarian production of Billy Elliot the Musical (BETM) in Budapest was on December 30, 2016.
Debut: July 31, 2016 (Budapest, Hungary)
Total Performances as Billy: 21 (No partial shows)
Kamill Kökény-Hámori was 12 years old (d.o.b. = 22-Aug-2003) when he debuted, one of three young actors to originate the role of Billy Elliot in BETM at the Hungarian Opera House in Budapest.
Before trying out for the role of Billy in BETM, Kamill had not done any ballet, apart from a small amount of training just before his first audition. Despite this, Kamill was a dancer and had trained in other styles of dance. The Chancellor of the Hungarian Dance Academy had seem him performing and had offered him a place to study at the academy.
Kamill’s first audition for BETM was a year and a half before the production opened, and he says that he enjoyed the casting process and rehearsing with all the other boys. He says that they were all friends, not rivals, apart from temporarily when the final decision was made as to which of the boys would play Billy.
Credit: Photo by Mudra László – Origo
For the last two months leading up to the show opening, Kamill has had a hectic schedule. Each day he went to school from 8am to 2pm, and then on to the Dance Academy, and then finally he went to BETM rehearsals that didn’t finish until 10pm.
Something that inspired Kamill to audition for the role of Billy was seeing Elliott Hanna dancing Dream Ballet on the DVD recording of the London production, as Kamill wanted to be able to fly. When he finally got the chance to try out some flying, Kamill said that he loved it.
Credit: Photo by Mary Burit
The director of BETM in Hungary – Tamás Szirtes – has described Kamill as being a deep, emotional boy, and has said that these characteristics are displayed in his portrayal of Billy.
Debuting on 31-Jul-2016, Kamill becomes the 160th actor worldwide to play the role of Billy Elliot.
The video below shows the Budapest cast in final rehearsals on the Opera House stage before the show opened, featuring Kamill as Billy:
Credit: Video by Operaház
Here’s a video which is a collection of production photos of Kamill as Billy:
Credit: Video by István Mága
For more information about Kamill visit:
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