Easington Colliery Band recently starred in the final ever stage production of the critically acclaimed West End show 'Billy Elliot the Musical' — sharing the stage with composer Sir Elton John in front of a packed audience at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London.

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The film version was originally based in and around the north east mining village of Easington, where the band is still based in the old colliery pay office — the last remaining evidence of the coal mine that closed in 1993.

And with the stage show run coming to an end, the film's director, Stephen Daldry, contacted the band to sound out the idea of including them in the final production. Delighted to be involved they made the trip to take part in a four hour long rehearsal on the Friday afternoon followed by the show on the Saturday evening where they performed 'Once We Were Kings'.

Cheers

That saw them start alone as a fanfare from the back of the auditorium , before proceeding to the stage to rapturous cheers before culminating in forming a guard of honour for miners as they returned to work at the end of the year long strike.

The band then remained on stage to play an arrangement of 'Abide with Me' to accompany Billy as he sings a reprisal of 'The Letter' to a vision of his dead mother, as the curtain came down for a final time.

Sir Elton John then took to the stage with the band, cast and several former 'Billys' for an extra long standing ovation from an ecstatic audience!

He then made sure he thanked each band member personally and obligingly posed for photographs, commenting on how he was blown away by the band's performance, particularly playing his favourite hymn.

The impact the band made was so much more than anything we could've done on our own — and for that, I, Elton, Stephen, and the show will be forever in your debtDirector Chris Hatt

Greatest

Stephen Daldry was so overwhelmed that he was quoted as saying "...that was the single greatest theatrical moment of my life."

The show's musical director, Chris Hatt also spoke emotionally afterwards and said: "That's the true power of Billy Elliot — it's real. Easington Colliery Band is the real thing.

The impact the band made was so much more than anything we could've done on our own — and for that, I, Elton, Stephen, and the show will be forever in your debt. Thanks to all of you for making it work, playing so well, and for giving us all an evening we'll never forget."

Amazing

Band spokesperson Leanne Ash commented afterwards: "This is the single most amazing experience I have had in my banding career, nothing will ever top this and having Sir Elton John admitting that he had been reduced to tears was unbelievable."