Note: Osku Perkiö’s final show as Billy in Billy Elliot the Musical (BETM) in Tampere, Finland was on April 27, 2019.
Debut: October 13, 2018 (Tampere, Finland)
Total Performances as Billy: 27 (No partial shows)
Osku Perkiö was 12 years old when he made his debut as Billy in the Tampere production of BETM. He lives in Kangasala, which is a city next to Tampere.
Osku, along with the other two boys who will play Billy, was chosen from over 100 boys who auditioned for the role. He has been training at least three times a week for the past six months in ballet, tap, acting and singing, and more recently rehearsals have been six days a week. Osku says that he has only been going home to sleep because they have been spending so much time rehearsing. He also hasn’t had much time for schoolwork, and has to fit it in during breaks in rehearsals.
Here is a video of Osku talking about playing Billy:
youtube.com/watch?v=UVAy5e-ZMNM
Credit: Video by Tampereen Työväen Teatteri
Osku knows that when his voice breaks he will no longer be able to play the role of Billy. He said that he did have one scary moment when he couldn’t reach the high notes in the songs, but he learned that he needs to warm up before singing and then he can sing all the notes.
When asked if he was worried about the premiere being so soon now, Osku replied, “Yes, there is still a little bit of tension when you realise that it is really two weeks and no longer half a year.”
Osku’s debut as Billy on 13-Oct-2018 makes him the 253rd actor worldwide to play the role in a professional, regional or community theatre production of the musical.
Credit: Photo by Heli Mansikka/Yle
For more information about Osku visit:
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