Meet Billy Elliot: Nick Twiney

Note: Nick’s final performance as Billy in the Sydney production of Billy Elliot the Musical (BETM) was on 20-May-2008.

Debut: 12-Jan-2008 (Sydney)

Total Performances as Billy: Unknown (Sydney data was not recorded)  

Nick Twiney was 15-years-old (D.O.B = 11-Dec-1992) when he debuted as Billy in the Australian production of BETM in Sydney, which was also his hometown.

Before being cast as Billy, Nick had been dancing for many years.  His training took place at RGDance in Chiswick, Sydney, where he studied jazz, ballet, tap and acrobatics.

In 2007 Nick appeared as ‘Tyson’ in Razzle Dazzle: A Journey Into Dance, a mockumentary comedy film about competitive dance.  The following video shows a compilation of clips of Nick in this film, and it shows off some of his impressive dance skills:

youtube.com/watch?v=AHoje2rqX9c

Credit: Video by AccordBETM’s Billy Ellliot Channel

Although Nick was one of the four original Billys, he was not able to perform in the show when it opened in November 2007 due to a broken wrist.  During Nick’s absence Corey Snide, who at the time was performing as Billy in the London production, came to Sydney to cover for him.  Finally, after a two month delay, Nick was able to step on stage as Billy Elliot, with his debut performance on 12-Jan-2008.  He became the 18th actor to play the role of Billy worldwide.

Alongside the three other original Sydney Billys, Nick was awarded the 2007 Helpmann Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

As his voice was starting to break, Nick had to retire from the show just four months after his debut, and he performed for the last time on 20-May-2008.

Post Billy Activities

• Nick performed in The Polar Express at the Glen Street Theatre (Dec 2008)

• He continued his studies at The McDonald College of Performing Arts in North Strathfield, Sydney.

• Nick then started to focus more on music and went on to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, graduating in 2015.

• He plays keyboards in a band called “NICK TAYLOR”.  One of the other band members – Triton Taylor – produces his own material, and Nick regularly works with him on this too. 

For more information about Nick Twiney visit:

Billy Elliot the Forum

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