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Matthew Lyons - Billy

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 2:56 pm
by ERinVA

Re: Matthew Lyons - Billy

Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 11:09 am
by kport
This is an article about Matthew's hometown stage school:

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/w ... -1-7789805

Re: Matthew Lyons - Billy

Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 11:28 am
by jmh2014

Re: Matthew Lyons - Billy

Posted: Tue May 10, 2016 3:49 pm
by kport
Matthew is featured in this article from the Ilkley Gazette and the Telegraph and Argus:

http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/144 ... t_s_shoes/

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... ical_role/ (same article)

and one in the Yorkshire Evening Post:

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... -1-7902411

Re: Matthew Lyons - Billy

Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2016 2:50 pm
by CJ-Rochester
Matthew has left the show, announced today on BETM's Facebook page. :cry:

https://www.facebook.com/BillyElliotthe ... =3&theater

Re: Matthew Lyons - Billy

Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2016 3:23 pm
by Barry Appleby
Matthew, my most seen Touring Billy, so sorry to hear you have left the show.
So "ALL THE BEST IN THE FUTURE"

Re: Matthew Lyons - Billy

Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2016 6:15 pm
by patc
There is always an air of sadness about when news of a Billy's retirement is released. The one thing they are assured of is that they become legends to the legions of fans who have seen them develop and hone their skills over their time in the show. Watching Matthew doing this has been an absolute pleasure.

The highlight for me of his time in the show was that unbelievable (very important) opening night in Dublin when he raised the roof at the BGE, sent the 2,000 plus audience into ballistic mode the likes of which I had never seen before in that particular theatre. Within the hour phones, facebook, twitter et al went into overdrive. Word spread like wildfire. You MUST see Billy Elliot the Musical. I went back to look at my review of this show and this was a sample:

Matthew, he with such an endearing voice, was Billy and delivered a stunning performance throughout. A mighty tour-de-force packed with all that we have come to expect from these amazing youngsters over all the years. To me it seems like a daunting task even for an adult to walk onto a big stage in front of a 2000+ audience, far from home and in a strange country and expected to carry a million dollar show on your shoulders. Matthew took all this in his stride and not a bother to him. His smile at the end of the show was also worth a million dollars.

At the end of his superb Electricity, Matthew walked forward to front of stage where he stood taking it all in as cheers and applause rang out for ages and ages. As always, this took its toll on my emotions even more so on this night of nights. Thanks to him the young boy dancers in the audience will have been immeasurably inspired.


I wish Matthew all the very best for the future in whatever he does. At his tender age he has already brought such joy and happiness to more people than the rest of us will in our whole lives.

Farewell...........and Thanks to yet another Billy legend.

Pat

Re: Matthew Lyons - Billy

Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2016 7:29 pm
by jmh2014
Sad to hear this news and also that Matthew didn't get an "official" leavers show.

Checking the tracking thread I was very fortunate to be at Matthew's last show. To all concerned it was just a regular show, with no indication it would be his last. I will always remember his reaction to the ovation after Electricity. Choked with emotion and almost in awe of the audience reaction.

Thank you for the memories and good luck for the future.

Re: Matthew Lyons - Billy

Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2016 7:49 pm
by ERinVA
It's sad that he didn't get a leaver's show. :(

Re: Matthew Lyons - Billy

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2016 12:36 am
by Sheffan
I completely concur in what Pat has said above. Also as ERinVA said, how sad that there was no leaving show tribute for Matthew.

Matthew will always be in my memories for his stunning performance at the final show in Sunderland which I attended and also he played Billy during the last of my Dublin shows on Aug 13. He is a fine all rounder in dancing, acting and singing. He brought a pathos to the show that any adult actor would struggle to match.

I was also present at the show in Edinburgh on Sept 27 when he was replaced by Lewis prior to the the Christmas Night scene. Pat and Barry were also present at this performance and we all were completely surprised at him being taken off then, as the first act including Angry Dance was phenomenal. I can't really believe he has grown out of the role in little over a month to his last show on Nov 3. Maybe even the producers didn't regard this date as his last show at that time.

I'm inclined to think there may be other unstated reasons for Matthew leaving the show - maybe events in Matthews life or his family, education, pressures of being away from home, etc. It is entirely understandable that this matter is and should remain private. We will probably never know the full story. In any case, I fully respect what Matthew, his family and the producers have decided.

He has brought so much joy to thousands and thousands of people all over the UK and Ireland. He has had a brilliant start to his life journey and I'm sure his star will shine brightly over the years ahead.

Thanks a million Matthew, mate from a fellow Yorkshireman!!