This June, Curve is set to host a regional showcase for the Billy Youth Theatre. This new initiative provides schools and youth groups around the country the opportunity to perform their own productions of the hugely popular Billy Elliot The Musical.

Over 4.5 million people world-wide including Her Majesty The Queen have now seen the musical, which celebrated its fifth birthday at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London on March 31st this year.

The scheme has been launched by the producers of the internationally award-winning show to celebrate its fifth year in the West End. Billy Elliot writer Lee Hall together with Martin Koch, Musical Supervision and Orchestrations, adapted their original script and orchestrations to produce a shortened version of the show exclusively for groups staging local productions as part of Billy Elliot Youth Theatre.

The performance at Curve takes place at 7pm on Saturday June 19th and is one of seven regional showcases. It will feature a number of the BYT participating groups, including Abington High School in Wigston, Leicestershire.

Selected groups from the scheme will be invited to perform as part of a series of regional showcases culminating in the Billy Youth Theatre West End Gala at the Victoria Palace Theatre, Billy’s London home, in July 2010.

Billy Youth Theatre includes 115 groups and over 5,000 young people from Stirling to Southampton, and Leicester to Luton. The scheme was open to schools and established youth groups in England, Scotland and Wales, and to performers aged 10-19.

Tickets are priced between £6 and £10. For more information or to book, visit www.curveonline.co.uk or call 0116 242 3595.

Photographs courtesy of Craig Sugden.