Note: Sebastian Sero appeared as Billy in Billy Elliot the Musical (BETM) in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, presented by Footlight Productions from January 17 to February 2, 2025.
Debuts: May 10, 2024 (Melbourne, Australia); January 17, 2025 (Geelong, Australia)
Total Performances as Billy: 15 (Melbourne = 6, Geelong = 9) (No partial shows)
Sebastian Sero was 11 years old (D.O.B. = 13-Jul-2012) when he debuted as Billy in CLOC Musical Theatre’s production of BETM at the National Theatre in Melbourne.
Sebastian’s dance training has taken place at Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance, The Space and currently at the Australian Ballet School. He has private teachers for jazz, tap and acro. He is coached in accents vocals by his mother — Anezka Sero — who also travels around with him (and his younger brother, Luka) in the many theatre shows/films he has performed in.
Despite his young age, Sebastian is already an experienced stage actor. His stage credits include:
- Young Tommy in The Who’s Tommy (Victorian Opera, 2021)
- John Bechdel in Fun Home (Melbourne/Sydney Theatre Company, 2022)
- Michael Banks in Mary Poppins (Australian National Tour, 2023)
- Serghei Karren in Anna Karenina (Australian Ballet, 2023)
- Young Elvis in Elvis: A Musical Revolution (David Vann Enterprises, 2024)
- Bronson in Round the Twist (Queensland Theatre, 2024)
- Children’s chorus and soloist in La Boheme (Melbourne Opera, 2024)
Sebastian has also done work on screen. His screen credits include:
- The Clearing (Disney Plus, 2023)
- Robbie Williams’ biopic – Better Man (2024)
- The Magic Beach (Robert Connolly, 2024)
Sebastian has also voiced the English dubs of The Shadow Strays, Terror Tuesday and Borderless Fog (Netflix). Additionally, he has recently been cast as Charlie in The Anaconda (Columbia Pictures).
As a young man of many talents, Sebastian is also in a pop duo with his younger brother Luka, which is called The Sero Brothers. Here’s the music video for their original debut single Cutie:
Credit: Music Video by Sero Brothers
And their most recent single Figure It Out:
Credit: Music Video by Sero Brothers
Luka also appeared onstage in CLOC’s BETM alongside Sebastian, playing the role of Small Boy.
Rehearsals for BETM in Melbourne began in February 2024. With his debut performance as Billy on 10-May-2024, Sebastian becomes the 356th young actor worldwide to play the role in a professional, regional or community theatre production of the musical.
Credit: Photos in this article of the CLOC production of BETM are by Ben Fon
In August 2024, it was announced that Sebastian would be taking to the stage as Billy once again in Jan/Feb 2025. This time it would be at the Geelong Arts Centre in Geelong, Victoria, presented by Footlight Productions.
The Sero family were in Queensland, with both boys performing in Round the Twist when the Footlight Productions producer contacted them via an actress — Molly Gleeson — who they knew on the film Better Man, to see if Sebastian was available to play Billy in their production. Footlight had previously held auditions but hadn’t been able to find their Billys yet. The producer remarked to their friend/former castmate Gleeson that she wished that Sebastian was available, having seen him in the CLOC production. Molly offered to reach out to his mother to check their availability, and the rest is history! They decided to cast both brothers to share the role.
The rehearsal period has been quite challenging due to the boys’ busy schedules. As they were both performing in Round the Twist, they did an initial intensive rehearsal period with the Footlight team, before heading back to Round the Twist rehearsals. Then they’ve flown back to Victoria a few times to rehearse with the cast. For the final weeks of rehearsals, Sebastian is away once again in Queensland, this time filming The Anaconda, so Luka is covering the final week of rehearsals before Sebastian flies back to for tech week and opening weekend.
Sebastian spoke about getting the opportunity to perform in a second production of BETM: “Playing Billy was the best experience of my life and so emotionally and artistically rewarding – I think it will always be my favourite role. I’m really excited to perform at Geelong Arts Centre and to work with a new cast. Billy is such a special show and I’m not done with my Billy journey yet – I still have places to take him and I can’t wait to work with (director) Alister to develop that further. The first time, I had so much to learn and it was so exciting – and nerve wracking – putting it all together. Now I know who Billy is and I want to explore the role even more.”
For more information about Sebastian, visit:
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