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    Meet Billy Elliot: Rarmian Newton

    Note: Rarmian’s final performance as Billy in the Sydney production of Billy Elliot the Musical (BETM) was on 11-Oct-2008.

    Debut: 16-Nov-2007 (Sydney)

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

    Rarmian Newton was 14-years-old (D.O.B = 15-Aug-1993) when he debuted as Billy in the Sydney production of BETM.  He is from Melbourne, Victoria.

    Rarmian has always been interested in performing and started taking classes in singing and dancing when he was just four.  For the previous five years before he joined BETM, Rarmian studied dance, drama, musical theatre and singing at Centerstage Performing Arts School in Brunswick, Melbourne.  He was also a student at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCA) on a Dance Scholarship. Rarmian was the recipient of the 2007 VCA RAD Ballet Scholarship.

    Rarmian does the Billy jump (Credit: Photo by Andrew Tauber)
    Rarmian does the Billy jump (Credit: Photo by Andrew Tauber)

    When he won the role of Billy Elliot, Rarmian was already a seasoned professional, with numerous previous performing experiences.  His theatre credits included understudying the role of ‘young Peter Allen’ in The Boy From Oz, alongside Hugh Jackman, and playing the role of ‘Simon’ in The Jacaranda Tree, both in 2006.

    Rarmian also had experience in television.  He starred as ‘Bobby Fornay’ in the 2006 US TV Mini-Series Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King, and appeared in multiple television commercials and short films.

    Impressively, Rarmian has also performed at some major events.  He sung the National Anthem at the 2006 World Cup Final, and appeared in the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony as a flying acrobat.

    Rarmian Theatre Awards
    The Billys at the Sydney Theatre Awards (l-r: Lochlan Denholm, Rarmian Newton, Rhys Kosakowski, Nick Twiney)

    Rarmian made his debut performance as Billy Elliot on 16-Nov-2007, becoming the 16th Billy worldwide.  Rarmian described this achievement as “a dream come true” and that it was the culmination of years of study and hard work following his passion to perform.

    In recognition of his performance in the role of Billy, Rarmian was the recipient of the 2007 Helpmann Award for Best Actor in a Musical, which was jointly awarded to all four of the original Sydney Billys.  This group of Billys also won the same award at the 2007 Sydney Theatre Awards on 21-Jan-2008.

    After appearing in the show for almost a year, Rarmian performed in BETM for the last time on 11-Oct-2008. 

    Rarmian 1
    Rarmian Newton is Billy Elliot

     

    Post Billy Activities 

    After leaving BETM, Rarmian went on to do much work in theatre and television.

    His theatre credits include:

    • Playing the role of ‘Tumblebrutus’ in CATS in Manila (2010)

    • Winning an international casting to play the lead role of ‘Hiccup’ in the Dreamworks/RZO International Arena Tour of How to Train your Dragon (2012)

    Rarmian as 'Hiccup' poses with his dragon 'Toothless' in "How to Train your Dragon"
    Rarmian as ‘Hiccup’ poses with his dragon ‘Toothless’ in “How to Train your Dragon”

    Rarmian’s performances in television include:

    • ‘Michael Slade’ in Dance Academy (2012)

    • ‘Young Garry’ in Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS (2012)

    • ‘Paul Wooton’ in The Doctor Blake Mysteries (2014)

    • ‘Young Danny Warren’ in ABC’s The Family (2016)

    Rarmian will appear in the upcoming feature film Break it Down as Ben Smart, the young West Australian who won the World Line Dancing Championships three times and over 50 international awards.

    Rarmian currently splits his time between Australia and the USA, working on projects in both countries. 

    For more information about Rarmian Newton visit:

    Billy Elliot the Forum, IMDb

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