Billy Elliot: stage vs screen

Stephen Daldry's 2000 film Billy Elliot, written by Lee Hall and starring Jamie Bell as an 11-year-old boy who takes up ballet during the 1984 to 1985 miners' strike, is a drama rather than a musical. Hall then wrote the book and lyrics for the stage version, with music by Elton John, which opened in the West End in 2005 and on Broadway in 2008. These are the main differences.

Stage

Broadway musical (2008)

Screen

Billy Elliot (2000), directed by Stephen Daldry

1. The film is a drama with borrowed songs

The 2000 film has a score by Stephen Warbeck, and its soundtrack leans on existing records by T. Rex, The Jam, and The Clash, which mostly play over the story rather than being sung by the characters. The musical has an original Elton John score with lyrics by Lee Hall, who wrote the film's screenplay too, so the characters now sing their own feelings.

2. The strike and the ballet class share the stage

Both versions set Billy's ballet lessons against the miners' strike. The musical makes the collision loud: "The Stars Look Down" opens the show with the company, and in "Solidarity" the ballet girls, Billy, Mrs. Wilkinson, the miners, and the police all sing in one number. Act II adds a satirical Christmas song, "Merry Christmas, Maggie Thatcher," sung by Tony and the partygoers.

3. Grandma gets a song

In the film, Billy's grandmother has Alzheimer's disease. The musical gives her "Grandma's Song," in which she tells Billy about the abuse she suffered from her late husband and how dancing once gave her joy. It lets her speak to Billy directly about her own past, and about why his dancing matters to her.

4. Billy's mother appears on stage

Billy's mother has died before both stories begin. On stage she is no longer only a memory: she appears in "The Letter," singing with Mrs. Wilkinson and Billy, and returns near the end for Billy's reply. Haydn Gwynne, who created Mrs. Wilkinson in London and on Broadway, was nominated for a Tony Award for the role.

5. Older Billy dances with Billy

The film ends in 1998 with a 25-year-old Billy, played by Adam Cooper, dancing the Swan in Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake as Jackie, Tony, and Michael watch. The musical does not jump forward. Instead an Older Billy joins the boy for a "Swan Lake" duet in Act II, and the show ends with Billy leaving home with his suitcase and the company returning for a finale.

6. Michael's friendship gets more story

In the film, Billy's best friend Michael is gay, and Billy stands by him. The musical gives Michael the number "Expressing Yourself," in which he wears a dress and gets Billy to dress up too, then later has him confess feelings for Billy. Billy answers that liking ballet does not make him gay, and Michael kisses his cheek. At the very end, Michael stops Billy on his way out, and they share a kiss on the cheek.

7. Different money, different picket line

In the film, Jackie tries to cross the picket line to pay for the London audition, but Tony stops him, the miners and neighbours raise money, and Jackie pawns Billy's late mother's jewellery. On stage Jackie does cross the line, Tony sees it, and the brothers fight in "He Could Be a Star." The miners then give money one by one, and Tony tries to refuse a strike-breaker's cash, but nobody backs him.

8. Showstoppers: "Angry Dance" and "Electricity"

The stage show builds its big dance moments into numbers. When Jackie says that Billy's mother is dead, Billy erupts in the "Angry Dance" with the male ensemble. At the London audition, the panel asks what dancing feels like, and Billy sings "Electricity." In the film the same answer is spoken, as Billy says that it feels like electricity.

Billy Elliot movie vs musical: FAQs