NORTH Yorkshire-born Scott Garnham is delighted to be part of the cast bringing Billy Elliot back to the region.

“That’s the thing that we’re most excited about is we’re bringing the show to places like Sunderland, where people couldn’t maybe get to the West End. I play Tony (Billy’s older brother) who a lot of the audience will relate with and his particular journey,” says Garnham. “They will have been youngsters at the time this happened and that’s why it’s exciting for us.”

Tony’s desperate fight to save the mining industry, which is destined to die, reflects sadly on the bright hopes of his young brother’s attempts to reach the Royal Ballet School.

“The musical really has two stories. You’ve got young Billy who wants to dance and succeeds, but the battle with Thatcher is lost and is has such a massive detrimental effect on so many communities, including Easington where this is set,” he says.

The actor from Malton feels that the musical has become probably the most successful commercial project from the North-East because it doesn’t patronise the audience and there is a heightened sense of reality.

“It’s not like you’re telling people where you live and then singing a song about it. Billy Elliot doesn’t do that. It’s this fantastic, gritty drama where the scenes are like watching a play and then it’s surrounded by the world that Billy creates. Someone told me about the dancing in the shower, but this is a show where dancing isn’t acceptable. In the show there are lots of people dancing, but someone said that this is way that Billy views the world. If you look at a lot of the dance routines, they are based on truth and intention. There is a big scene called Solidarity where the miners interact with the ballet class, but it’s all done with acting, aggression and passion. That’s why Billy Elliot is so powerful and has been so successful for 11 years,” says Garnham.

The touring version of Billy Elliot, which closes in the West End on April 9, has had to be adapted for different stages around the UK, making the cast feel like they’re part of a completely new production.

“Sunderland audiences are going to see something unique to touring audiences. People who have seen both are complimentary about our version,” he says.

Asked about his own “Billy Elliot” journey from North Yorkshire to the West End stage Garnham says he’s like a lot of people his age (31) where he didn’t dance at all as a child and had been more keen on acting.

“It was an odd thing to do and there was a bit of stigma attached to it in my day, before X Factor and Britain’s got talent where everyone wants to sing and dance. This idea of fame is so funny, because when I was a boy – and like Billy Elliot – it was nothing to do with fame. At no point did he want to be famous. He wanted to dance because he loved doing it, and I just wanted to act because I loved it.

“When children are asked what they want to be being famous has become one of the top answers and that’s really sad,” says Garnham, who has appeared in Les Miserables, I Can’t Sing, Made in Dagenham, Titanic and the UK tour of Never Forget.