Billy Elliot

Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) tries, unsuccessfully, to sell boxing to his friend Michael Caffrey (Stuart Wells). A side entrance of the Rialto Cinema at the corner of Seaside Lane, Oswald Terrace and Easington Street in Easington Colliery, County Durham.

The same, but since altered, doorway captured by Alan Mayne.

After Billy took part in her ballet class, Sandra Wilkinson (Julie Walters) stops to ask if he'll come again next week as she drives home with her daughter Debbie (Nicola Blackwell). Facing east on the unnamed road at the top of Avon Street in Easington Colliery, County Durham.

Alan Mayne revisited the area and took most of the comparison images for this production.

Leaving the eleven year old to make his mind up, Sandra continues homeward. Looking west on the same road in the village of Easington Colliery, lying between Seaham and Hartlepool.

A missing terrace is apparent in Alan's recent view.

Billy watches Mrs. Wilkinson's car heading into the distance. The top of Angus Street with houses on Anthony Street in the centre background and the North Sea beyond.

The same location now by Alan.

Grandma (Jean Heywood) looks at a headstone as Billy tends to his Mother's grave. Lynemouth Cemetery to the south of Lynemouth in Northumberland with the Aluminium Smelter in the background. The works ceased production in 2012.

Alan Mayne captured the cemetery from ground level.

On a cross-country run, Billy and Michael talk about men being ballet dancers. Peter Bowery advises that this is the two tunnels at Ellington in Northumberland where the River Lyne passes through the next village, Lynemouth.

Rebecca Stone provides this view of the tunnel entrances in Ellington.

Michael points out that Wayne Sleep is as fit as an athlete.

Billy runs across waste ground towards the travelling library that has parked in the village. The rear of properties on Anthony Street stand in the left background.

Properties on Leech Court now obscure the view, as Alan discovered.

While the Librarian (Carol McGuigan) watches the police in pursuit of a youth. Billy takes a book on ballet, hiding it before leaving the vehicle. Facing Ashton Street from the former Austin and Arthur Streets. The waste ground is now the site of Leech Court.

Alan captured the location without the aid of a mobile library.

After mastering the pirouette, Billy runs and dances his way home. Near the top of Andrew Street in Easington Colliery.

Recognisable as the the same stretch of road in Alan Mayne's shot.

To the immediate left stands Anthony Street with Argent Street opposite and this road becomes Crawlaw Road to the west.

Alan returned to the location.

The back of Anthony Street stands to the right while houses front Ashton Street on the left and Bede Street runs into the centre distance.

Taken from a similar position by Alan Mayne.

Billy heads off towards the Boxing Club, hiding his ballet shoes down his trousers. Facing the rear of homes on Anthony Street.

Noting that the row of houses in the background has since been painted, Alan took this picture from Leech Court.

After being found at Mrs. Wilkinson's ballet class by his father, Billy runs from home after a heated row. The back of Alnwick Street and Andrew Streets in Easington Colliery.

Alan found the vacant space where terraces once stood.

The frustrated youngster runs out of the village. Queen Alexandra Road in Seaham, County Durham.

An overgrown view met Alan when he arrived on the scene.

Anger begins to subside. Queen Alexandra Road with Green Drive Railway Viaduct on the line between Seaham and Hartlepool in the background.

The viaduct can just about be made out in Alan's shot.

One day, after school, Billy walks to Mrs. Wilkinson's home.

Billy pauses before walking to the front door to tell his teacher that his Dad has stopped him attending ballet lessons.

Sandra drives her pupil home and offers him private lessons. Andrew Street runs across the background. The street was demolished in 2003.

Alan Mayne returned to the site of the street.

As they listen to an excerpt from Swan Lake on the car stereo, Mrs. Wilkinson takes Billy to an audition.

The music continues to play in the background. The Tees Transporter Bridge across the River Tees in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire.

Taken from the southern shore of the Tees, Iain Kitching provides this view of teh bridge now.

Sandra tells Billy the story of the Swan. Crossing the Middlesbrough Reach of the River Tees on the Tees Transporter Bridge.

Approaching Port Clarence Road on the north bank of the Tees in Middlesbrough. The bridge is also seen during the title sequence of 'Schizo'.

Striking miners and police battle each other as they run through the village streets before union agitator, Tony Elliot is spotted. This is facing north on Avon Street.

The same terrace captured by Alan Mayne.

Police reinforcements arrive as Tony is pursued through the terraces of houses. Anthony Street in Easington.

Alan found no armoured police vehicles on the street.

Tony Elliot (Jamie Draven) emerges from a house to be faced with a wall of riot police. Looking towards the rear of properties on Anthony Street.

Due to redevelopment, Alan provides the best shot possible of the background terrace.

Stopped in his tracks, Tony eyes the line of police before turning to escape through a house.

Recognisable as the same location in Alan's view.

Billy watches as his brother fights his way through washing before being run down by mounted police.

Andrew Mayne took this shot along where the the backs of Alnwick Street, on the left, and Andrew Street to the right, once stood.

When Billy misses an audition for the Royal Ballet School, Sandra drives to his home. Looking along Ashton Street from the bottom of Alnwick Street with buildings at the end of Avon Street in the centre and Angus Street to the right of centre.

The cleared terrace on Ashton Street is apparent in Alan's image.

While Sandra waits, Jackie Elliot (Gary Lewis) approaches after returning from court with his sons. Facing south at the back of Alnwick and Andrew Streets in Easington Colliery. Pat Cleary contacted us to advise that the row of houses to the left had been demolished by 2007 and replaced with grass.

Alan's shot looks past the site of the demolished terrace.

The family confront the ballet teacher. The back of Alnwick and Andrew Streets.

The same location now, taken by Alan.

Billy runs from the house after Sandra argues with his father and brother. Facing the rear of properties on Seaside Lane from the back of Alnwick Street to the left and Andrew Street on the right.

The background buildings survive as Alan Mayne's comparison shows.

Winter arrives and, at Christmas, Billy's father burns furniture to keep them warm. The back of Embleton Street and Stavordale Street West in Seaham.

A similar view from Alan.

Billy and Michael drink weak beer whilst talking about running away. At the side of the Rialto Cinema on Londonderry Terrace running between Oswald Terrace and Easington Street in Easington Colliery.

Alan found that the former cinema still stands.

Jackie heads off to find Mrs. Wilkinson after discovering his son dancing at the the boxing club. Facing Londonderry Terrace from the backs of Oswald Terrace and Easington Street in Easington Colliery.

A daylight view of the location by Alan Mayne.

Deciding to help his son with an audition at the Royal Ballet School, Jackie catches the bus taking working miners through the picket lines.

The bus drops Jackie off at the pit where Tony persuades his father not to return to work as money can be raised in other ways. Lynemouth Colliery in Northumberland.

While money is raised by the Welfare Club, Jackie heads into town with his late wife's jewellery. Looking towards the junction of Westgate Road and Cross gate from Pink Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Alan found that the lane isn't as tidy now.

Jackie enters a pawnbrokers. Pink Lane in Newcastle upon Tyne, a little further up from where scenes in 'Get Carter' were shot.

The premises were closed for business when Alan arrived.

Billy and his Dad head into town to catch the coach to London. Looking towards the North Sea from the back of Embleton Street and Stavordale Street West in Seaham. More of Seaham is seen in 'Life for Ruth'.

Recognisable as the same back street in Alan's view.

Father and son walk towards the Royal Ballet School in Richmond. In reality, this is New Wardour Castle near Tisbury in Wiltshire.

Back home, Billy makes his way to school as the Postman delivers a letter to the house. The main entrance to the former Rialto Cinema on Oswald Terrace, Easington Colliery. The cinema closed in the mid-1970s and the building is currently in use as a carpet store.

A good matching shot of the former doors by Alan.

Jackie runs to the Welfare Club to tell them that Billy has been accepted into the Royal Ballet School. Dawdon Miners' Hall on Mount Stewart Street in Dawdon near Seaham, County Durham.

Alan Mayne proves the location.

At the cemetery, Billy tells his Dad that he's scared. Lynemouth Cemetery with Lynemouth Colliery in the distance.

The location has become very overgrown, but Alan did find the fence.

From the top of an outhouse, Michael calls to Billy. Looking towards the back of Andrew and Alnwick Streets from the corner of Seaside Lane.

Alan captured the same corner.

The two friends say their goodbyes. The back of Alnwick and Andrew Streets in Easington Colliery, County Durham with Seaside Lane in the centre distance. In October 2020, Pat Cleary remarks that the terrace to the left had been demolished by 2007 . . .

. . . which is shown by Alan Mayne's shot.

Jackie holds his son tight before putting him on the coach to London. Gallowgate Bus Station in Newcastle upon Tyne. The site has been redeveloped.

The bus station no longer exists and Alan Mayne took this shot of the location now.

As the coach departs, Billy looks back at his Dad and brother. Newcastle upon Tyne's Gallowgate Bus Station with the former offices of the Scottish and Newcastle Brewery to the right.

The site of Gallowgate Bus Station by Alan.

Tony watches the National Express coach carry Billy away. Gallowgate Bus Station in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear.

Progress has totally changed the scene as Alan Mayne's comparison shows.

Fourteen years later, Tony and Jackie arrive in London. Mark Alexander found one of the Jubilee Line platforms at Westminster underground station with an address on Bridge Street SW1.

This is the eastbound platform, which has a slight curve, unusually stacked above the lower level of the westbound. SJ

On his first ever visit to the capital, Jackie looks in wonder at the underground architecture. SJ found the escalators . . . .

. . . at Westminster station where the set of three escalators lead to and from the Jubilee line, and took this shot leaning over one of the walkways. SJ

That evening, Jackie and Tony meet Michael and enter the theatre to watch Billy perform in Swan Lake in front of a full house. The Theatre Royal on Haymarket, London SW1.

A daytime view of the same location from Peter.