Ryedale Youth Theatre and Kirkham Henry Performing Arts are teaming up for the Billy Youth Theatre production of Billy Elliot The Musical in Malton from Wednesday to Saturday.

The cast of 68 young performers has been rehearsing hard every Thursday evening since January, and during the half-term holiday too, under the direction of Angela Kirkham and musical director Martin Dixon.

“It’s been an exciting challenge for all concerned to put on a show like this in 12 weeks with only two hours’ rehearsal per week,” says Angela, who is overseeing Kirkham Henry’s 19th annual Easter musical theatre show.

“We won’t have our usual full-on week of rehearsals before Easter because the members are still at school until Maundy Thursday, but in true trouper style they’re willingly happy to rehearse straight after school every evening this week from 4pm to 8pm to polish up their performances to a perfect ‘Shine’.”

The title role of Billy Elliot, the north eastern boy who pursues his passion for dance against the background of the 1984/85 miners strike, will be played by 12-year-old Lewis Danby.

“He’s certainly coping extremely well, and his training at Kirkham Henry and the Billy Elliot school in Leeds and London have ensured that he’s an excellent choice for the part,” says Angela.

“Billy Elliot is a very complex and challenging show to produce and Billy is probably the most difficult role ever created for a young male actor. He’s on stage more or less permanently throughout the show and requires a huge amount of energy and stamina – as well as a very good memory – to cope with the many song-and-dance routines he has to perform.”

Behind the scenes, the production team has been a hive of activity with responsibility for scenery, props and costumes, including police helmets, riot shields, truncheons, miners’ helmets, overalls, banners, placards, boxing gloves, ballet shoes, tutus and even a Father Christmas outfit.

Wardrobe mistress Yvonne Young has sewn her way through hundreds of metres of net to make tutus for the girls and at one point her sewing room was engulfed in more than 100 large white ostrich feathers.

Meanwhile, her husband Piddy has spent many freezing hours this winter in the Ryedale Youth Theatre carpentry department – in reality a barn near Malton – creating the 1980s furniture required for the set.

You can see the results of all these endeavours from April 7 to 10 at the Milton Rooms, Malton, at 7.15pm each evening and 2pm, Thursday to Saturday. Tickets cost £9, from Malton Tourist Information Centre, Malton Museum, Market Place, Malton or on 01653 600048.