[Photo &] On His First Visit to Korea, Director Stephen Daldry Praises “Billy Elliot” Korean Performers as World-Class — Press Conference Scene

[Photo News] Live Art in Real Time — the Overwhelming Catharsis of the Musical 'Billy Elliot'

Unlike film, the stage of the musical 'Billy Elliot' reveals the essence of live performance—dancing on and on until the actors reach their physical limits. Directed by the global master 'Stephen Daldry', who led both the original film and the original UK production, he defined Billy’s journey as “like running a marathon while performing Hamlet.” Child performers must master not only acting and singing, but also high-difficulty ballet and tap dancing with precision. To do so, they endure punishing daily training of about 4 to 5 hours at the so-called 'Billy School', and in the movements of the children who overcome those limits, there is a pure elegance that overwhelms audiences.

[Photo News] After 14 Years, a Visit to Korea Confirms the World’s Top Tier — 'Billy in Korea'

Arriving in Korea for the first time since its Korean premiere in 2010, 'Stephen Daldry' met local reporters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and showered Korean audiences with high praise for the production. He said, “Korean performances feel new, alive, and after a long time, I felt deeply moved.” In particular, he described the skills of Korean performers—including 'Kim Seung-joo' as Billy—as “undeniably the very top level in the world.” Even though the story is rooted in the special regional backdrop of an English coal-mining village in the 1980s, what resonates worldwide is the universal narrative of a boy searching for his own voice, along with nostalgia for a fading industrial era—creating empathy that transcends borders.

[Photo News] A Great Stage Begins with the Tears of Pop Icon 'Elton John'

Behind the creation of the musical 'Billy Elliot' is pop legend 'Elton John'. Deeply moved by the original film, he was the first to propose turning it into a musical. 'Elton John', who was hurt because his father opposed his path as a singer, found real comfort by reflecting his own life in Billy’s story—where Billy starts ballet with his father’s devoted support. Meanwhile, there is also an anecdote that vividly shows the intensity of the era in which the work was made. On the day of Margaret Thatcher’s death in 2013, the production asked the audience to vote on a song number wishing for Thatcher’s passing, and after overwhelming approval, the song was performed—creating quite a stir.

[Photo News] The Inherent Value of Live Performance That Can’t Be Replaced Even in the 'AI Era'

Stephen Daldry, who moves freely between different media and stages—such as the stage adaptation of the Netflix series 'Stranger Things'—insists that the value of live performance will remain solid even in the 'AI era'. Even if artificial intelligence expands into many areas, the vivid immediacy of the moment—where actors and audiences breathe together in the theater and exchange emotions—cannot be replicated by technology. Forged by a master’s weighty philosophy and relentless dedication, the musical 'Billy Elliot' will meet audiences and prove that irreplaceable impact at 'Blue Square Woori Bank Hall' through July 26.

Led by world-renowned director 'Stephen Daldry', the musical 'Billy Elliot' is showcasing overwhelming achievements on the Korean stage. Created from pop legend 'Elton John'’s proposal, this production perfectly brings to life the story of a boy leaping toward his dream, set against an English coal-mining village in the 1980s, through flawless live performance. By demonstrating the value of live shows that can’t be replaced even in the 'AI era', it’s being recognized as one of the best stages to confirm the world-class talents of Korea’s child actors.