LAYLA KLINKENBERG Ballet Girl Layla is thrilled to be making her on-stage musical debut with The Very Popular Theatre Company in Billy Elliot the Musical. Performing on stage from the age of 2, Layla has a great passion for creative arts. Currently receiving dance training in tap, ballet, jazz, contemporary and musical theatre at Perry on Parry studios, Layla would like to thank her dance teachers Renae Perry, Karen Barker and Aleeta Northey for their encouragement and support. Layla also studies musical theatre at High Street Productions and participates in weekly singing lessons. Layla feels privileged to have the opportunity to learn and grow from this experience and can’t wait to see this amazing production come together. ZAYDE MARTIN Kevin, ensemble Zayde has been enjoying the stage life from the age of 2. While attending Capricorn School of Dancing, he brought many characters to life such as Zazu from Disney’s The Lion King and a foster kid in Annie. Not just sticking to musicals; he has also brought to life a devious Dennis the Menace through ballet and an Artful Dodger with tappin’ shoes. He then roared his way into Madagascar: A Musical Adventure with Hunter School of Performing Arts and The Spongebob Musical with Young People’s Theatre in 2022. Billy Elliot the Musical is Zayde’s debut with The Very Popular Theatre Company. STEPHANIE MCDONALD Ensemble Stephanie has been involved in the performing arts on and off stage for some time, studying acting and music theatre at the year-long Music Theatre Studio at NIDA in 2014, and three of The Australian Music Theatre Workshops in Brisbane from 2012 to 2015. Starting in 2010 with Opera Hunter’s Annie Get Your Gun, Stephanie’s stage credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Newcastle Theatre Company), The Beggar’s Opera (The Sydney Fringe Festival, 2013), Mr Bennet’s Bride (both the original and the touring productions for Newcastle Theatre Company), Songs for a New World (NIDA), Evita (National Theatre Company), Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Newcastle Theatre Company), A Chorus Line (Pantseat Productions), Blood Brothers (Newcastle Theatre Company), Dogfight (Newcastle Theatre Company) and Ladies in Black The Musical (Novocastrian Players). Billy Elliot the Musical is Stephanie’s debut with The Very Popular Theatre Company. IMOGEN MEJIA Ballet Girl Imogen is a 12-year-old high school student who has always loved dancing and performing and began formal ballet classes at the age of 3. She is a student at National College of Dance, where she has gained extensive training in a variety of disciplines, including ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and acrobatics. Imogen successfully competes in solo and group competitions at both a local and national level. Billy Elliot the Musical is Imogen’s debut with The Very Popular Theatre Company. LUCAS MILLINGTON Scab, ensemble Lucas has been an aspiring performer since he started high school 7 years ago. This is his first performance in a musical and he hopes it’s far from his last. Lucas is exceptionally excited about this opportunity and looks forward to a future in Musical Theatre. Billy Elliot the Musical is Lucas’ debut with The Very Popular Theatre Company. 31
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