Why ‘Billy Elliot’ is the Must-See Musical of 2026: Insights from Star Choi Jung-won

[Goyang, Gyeonggi = TV Daily reporter Hwang Seo-yeon] Musical actor Choi Jung-won reflected on reuniting with the production of 'Billy Elliot.'

On March 10, the Show & Tell event for the musical 'Billy Elliot' was held at Goyang Aram Nuri in Goyang, Gyeonggi. Cast members Kim Seung-joo, Park Ji-hu, Kim Woo-jin, Jo Yoon-woo, Choi Jung-won, Jeon Su-mi, Park Jung-ja and Lim Seon-woo attended, joined by international collaborators — director Ed Burnside, choreographer Tom Hodgson and music director Steven Amos — to discuss the production.

First staged in Korea in 2010, 'Billy Elliot' is set in a northern English mining town during the 1980s miners' strike. The story follows a boy named Billy who, while training as a boxer, stumbles into ballet and discovers a hidden talent and a dream. The musical charts a young boy’s determination to pursue dance amid harsh realities and social prejudice, and traces his family's transformation and eventual reconciliation.

Before the Q&A, the company presented excerpts from key scenes. Jo Yoon-woo, as Billy, performed \"Shine\" and the \"Angry Dance\"; Kim Seung-joo performed \"Solidarity\"; Park Ji-hu performed \"Expressing Yourself\"; and Kim Woo-jin, alongside adult Billy Lim Seon-woo, took on the \"Dream Ballet.\"

Choi Jung-won, returning to the role of Mr. Wilkinson, is appearing in the production for a third consecutive season. \"'Billy Elliot' feels like the warmest musical in the world,\" he said. \"When I'm onstage I feel as if an electric current runs through me and I disappear, becoming someone else — just as Billy describes. After more than 30 years onstage, being able to have that experience again through this show is both a blessing and a joy.\"

He said he has high hopes for this season. \"We're continually adapting the production to better suit Korean performers,\" Choi said. \"Rather than fitting the four Billys into a single mold, we shape each character around the individual strengths of each boy. These Billys have especially energized me. I can't wait for audiences to see how they'll soar across the stage this season.\"

Working with the young actors, he added, has helped him discover new facets of his craft. \"Performing with these boys is a completely different, special experience than working with adult actors. It's hard to put into words, but sometimes they bring out emotions in me I didn't even know I had,\" he said with a laugh. \"To track those changes, I've started keeping a daily journal,\" he joked, adding to the anticipation surrounding the production.

The fourth season of 'Billy Elliot' runs from April 12 through July 26 at Blue Square Woori Bank Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

[TV Daily reporter Hwang Seo-yeon news@tvdaily.co.kr / Photo = Shinshi Company]