Note: Mason Athanasiadis will be appearing as Billy in Billy Elliot the Musical (BETM) in Leongatha, Victoria, Australia, presented by the Leongatha Lyric Theatre, from July 3-18, 2026.
Debut: July 3, 2026 (Leongatha, Victoria, Australia)
Total Performances as Billy: 13
Mason Athanasiadis was 12 years old when he debuted in the Leongatha Lyric Theatre production of BETM. He resides in Morwell, a town in the Latrobe Valley area of Gippsland, in South-Eastern Victoria, Australia approximately 94 miles east of Melbourne. His early academic education has taken place at St. Michael’s Primary School where, among other academic disciplines is a curriculum area called “The Arts”, which includes Dance, Drama, Media Arts, Music and Visual Arts.
Although he does have some light prior stage experience, Mason has been primarily a dancer. He has a strong, multi-year background in competitive dance, with a clear foundation in tap. He’s been associated with the Gippsland Academy of Dance in the past. Some of his accomplishments in dance include:
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In 1921, he placed 3rd in the “8yrs & under 10 Tap Solo Novice category at the Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod Festival in Traralgon.
- At the 2022 Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod, he was again competing in younger sections, winning 8 years & under 10 Jazz Solo Novice and placing 2nd in 8 years & under 10 Tap Solo Open.
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Mason wins 1st Place at Eisteddfod in 2025 At the 2023 Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod, he placed 2nd in 10 years & under 12 Tap Solo Open, won 10 years & under 12 Character Solo Novice, won 10 years & under 12 Jazz Solo Open, and took the Junior Most Entertaining Solo award.
- At the 2024 Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod, Mason won 10 years & under 12 Tap Solo Open, won 10 years & under 12 Jazz Solo Open, received an Honourable Mention in the Junior Jazz Championship, placed 2nd in the Junior Tap Championship, and won Junior Most Entertaining Solo.
- In 2025, he was awarded a “Dancer of the Day ‘Love of Dance’ Award” at the West Gippsland Dance Festival and received a 1st place award for the 12 yrs & under 14 Song & Dance Solo Open category at the Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod in 2025.
As mentioned earlier, Mason does have some experience acting in musicals. In August of 2025, he joined the cast of Singin’ In the Rain Jr., put on by Class Act Productions in Morwell, where he played a Broadway Dancer and Member of the Ensemble.
Billy Elliot The Musical
However, playing the title character in BETM will be Mason’s debut in a principal role in a musical.
A first round of auditions were to be held on August 6, 2025 followed by additional try-outs in September.
On August 26, 2025 the first cast members were announced. The production’s Billy would be Mason Athanasiadis who would be appearing for the first time at the Lyric Theatre. Rehearsals began shortly thereafter and continued right up until the opening of the production on July 3rd.
When he steps on the stage that first night, Mason will become the 398th performer to portray Billy Elliot in a professional, regional or community theatre production of the musical.
For more information about Mason, visit:
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