Billy Elliot triumphs at state theatre awards

GEELONG theatre company Footlight Productions has claimed the state’s top honour, with Billy Elliot the Musical named Production of the Year at the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria Awards on Saturday night.

The production, which enjoyed a 13-show run at the Geelong Arts Centre between January and February this year, took home six trophies after entering the awards ceremony with a field-leading 13 nominations.

Alongside Production of the Year, the show’s director Alister Smith was recognised with the Director of the Year award, 13-year-old Sebastian Sero received the Anna Marinelli Award for a junior performer in an open production for his portrayal of Billy Elliot, and choreographer Ashley Boyd was honoured with the Marie Kumisky Award for Choreography.

Both the production’s sound and lighting crews also picked up accolades.

Footlight Productions founder and producer Peter Wills said the recognition reflected the scale of the production and the collective effort behind it.

“Everyone contributed on stage and off. No matter what role they were doing, everyone put in, especially when we needed them to,” he said.

Mr Wills said the company’s success was driven by commitment.

“A lot of it is to do with organisation and hard work,” he said. “Everyone that gets involved in our productions works really hard and they’re happy to do that because they can see the end result.”

For Ms Boyd, who began performing with Footlight Productions in 2017 and is now the theatre company’s leading choreographer, the award recognises the challenge of delivering a highly complex production incorporating three distinct dance styles and a cast spanning young children through to adult performers.

“It was such a team effort,” she said. “Even from just the dance and choreography point of view, I had three people helping me as well as me working on it.

“The different styles were a challenge on their own. Children, adults, the complexity was huge, so it was really nice to be recognised for that.”

Footlight Productions is now preparing to open its next major production, Legally Blonde the Musical, at the Geelong Arts Centre in January.

Adapted from the hit film, Legally Blonde… centres on Elle Woods, whose journey to Harvard Law School begins as a bid to reclaim a lost relationship but becomes a story of self-discovery and determination.

“It’s full of energy,” Mr Wills said. “The cast don’t stop from the time they get on stage until the time it finishes. I honestly don’t know how some of them do it. Many people who loved Billy Elliot, they might be thinking, ‘I don’t know about Legally Blonde…’, but I’m sure they will love it.”

Legally Blonde… will open at Geelong Arts Centre on January 16. For tickets, head to geelongartscentre.org.au