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    Meet Billy Elliot: Oliver “Ollie” Gardner

    Note: Ollie’s final performance as Billy in London was September 25, 2010.

    Debut: May 12, 2009 (London)

    Total Performances as Billy: Unknown (Unreported data from the period he was Billy) (Recorded data: 131.5 — includes 5 partial shows credited @ .5 each)

    Ollie Gardner ThumbBorn on April 6, 1997, Oliver Gardner is affectionately known to family, friends and fans as Ollie.  At the time of his departure from the show, he was the senior Billy in the London production.

    Like nearly all the boys who have played the role, the Saltford (near Bath, England) lad started dance at an early age.  From the age of five, Ollie began accompanying his sister to her dance classes at the Dorothy Coleborn School of Dancing, in Bath, because his mother was a piano accompanist there.

    His first dance teacher, Annette Hind, who is the owner of the school, recalls: “Ollie would come and watch his sister’s dance classes because his mum was playing the piano and he would hide behind the piano because he was shy.  I thought that because his sister was so good and because he came from such a musical family, that he must be good too.  Eventually we persuaded him to join and it became clear very, very quickly, that he was going to be a star.”  Ollie learned ballet, tap and modern dance at the school and in five years, at the age of nine, he became a Junior Associate at the Royal Ballet School and then, later, a Mid Associate there.Ollie Gardner as Billy Elliot

    He auditioned for Billy Elliot in April of 2008, was offered the role, and completed the rigorous “Billy School” in record time for someone of his young age.  The average training time for the role is 18 months.

    Ollie’s debut as Billy, on May 12, 2009, was anything but ordinary.  On his opening night, the show celebrated its fourth birthday and 1,700th show at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London.  His family, friends and teachers were all in the sold out house to see him finally dance the part that he had been dreaming about for years.

    When interviewed after the performance he said: “When I came off the stage I felt relieved.  I was glad that finally all the training had paid off and that I had finally done it.  I’m just really happy.  I have always wanted to be Billy.  Before I went on I was a bit nervous, but more excited.”

    In this video from the show’s “We Are Billy Elliot” series, Ollie talks about what it’s like to play Billy:

    http://https://youtu.be/tNCu5J9Zq8c

    Credit: Video by WestEndTheatre

    Just before the show’s 5th anniversary celebration, on March 29, 2010, Ollie appeared with Ann Emery (who played his grandma in the show) on the BBC Breakfast program:

    http://https://youtu.be/s7ss0APqikA

    Credit: Video by Copyist58

    You can see from this pair of videos that this personable young man, this dynamo on stage, had gotten over his initial shyness.

    Ollie performed his last show as Billy on September 25, 2010, after over 16 months in the role.  Members of the Ollie Gardner Appreciation Society and Billy Elliot the Forum were at the show in force and presented Ollie with parting mementoes of his time as Billy, including cards and a book with photos and personal messages from many of his fans, both those present and those who couldn’t be.

    With his incredible talent, there was no doubt that we would be hearing more from this young man in the days ahead.

    Says Ollie’s first dance teacher, Annette Hind, “He was destined to play that part.  That was what he said he always wanted to do.  When he was having his ballet lessons it was always his goal to dance professionally.  I can’t tell you how proud I am.  It almost brings tears to my eyes because I know he is going to have such a fantastic career.”

    Ollie-Gardner-in-the-lead-001

    Credit: Photo by Yui Mok

    For more information about Ollie Gardner visit:

    Billy Elliot the Forum , Facebook Tribute Site, Ollie Gardner Facebook Appreciation Society

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    Life After Billy

    • 2010-2014 – Immediately following his stint as Billy, Ollie returned to Bath where he continued his academic studies at Kingswood School and his dance training at the Dorothy Coleborn School of Dancing.

    • 2014 –  In 2014 Ollie was the Dance Captain for the Commonwealth Games Village Welcome Ceremonies performed by the National Youth Theatre.

    • 2015 – Ollie enrolled at Exeter University in the Drama program there.

    • 2016 –  Ollie directed an Anchorage Beach Club Promo for Marfleet Events.  He also wrote, directed and played the role of Alex in Too High, Too Far, Too Soon in June of 2016.  It was about two people, “Alex and Charlie who receive an invitation they can’t refuse  – a party held by a socialite and a night they’ll never forget.”

    Ollie Directs the Cast of Too High, Too Far, Too Soon
    • 2017 –  Ollie directed the short film Pump for Jolly Hard Productions in 2017.
    • 2018 –  Directing and editing, Ollie was involved in the film short Flex: No Hard Feelings for Jolly Hard Productions in 2018.  Flex is an “emotionally vulnerable examination of body image in young people.” 

    • 2018/2019 – Ollie directed and acted in The Sunday Night Drinkers Club short drama for Jolly Hard Productions.  The Sunday Night Drinkers Club was selected for over 25 international film festivals, winning over 15 awards; for instance, Director’s Selection Young Filmmaker 2019 Category – Short Fiction.

    Credit: Video by Vital

    • 2019 –  Ollie earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honors in Drama at Exeter University in 2019.  Upon graduation, Ollie, along with fellow Exeter University student Jake Harvey, started a production company called Restless Content in London.

    Here’s a showreel illustrating some of the work of Restless Content:

    • 2020 –  Ollie continues to write, produce, direct, act in and edit films, music videos and commercials.

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