Joshua Fedrick
Encyclopedia
Joshua Fedrick is an English dancer and actor who played the lead in the London cast of Billy Elliot the Musical
. He made his debut in the role on 12 November 2007. He made his last appearance in the role on 27 September 2008.
, Cornwall
, UK
to Liz and Lee Fedrick. He has two brothers, Lewis (2 years older), and Kieran (2 years younger). He also has pets, a dog named Twiggy (Lab/Collie
cross).
Fedrick started gymnastics at the age of three and quickly moved up through the grades, taking part in many competitions, achieving good result and obtaining many medals. At the age of ten, he won a gold medal with the South West team in the British gymnastics finals. Unfortunately, the coach that Fedrick had trained with for many years left and his interest in gymnastics waned. This resulted in him giving up the sport. However, at that time, his cousin wanted to take up dance lessons, but did not want to go alone. Fedrick offered to go with her to keep her company. His cousin only went for a few weeks, but he enjoyed the lessons and continued to attend. Eventually, he switched dance instructors and came under the tutelage of Deborah Bond. During this time, he entered many exams and achieved very high grades.
In 2005, he entered the Janet Cram dance competition, dancing to T-Rex’s Born to Boogie as featured in the movie Billy Elliot
. He managed to reach the finals in London
.
and was successful. He then started the lengthy process of training including the summer intensives. Prior to commencing his training, he entered the Janet Cram Competition for the second time and again reached the finals in London. This time round, he was awarded the title for Most Outstanding Dance. The adjudicator was so impressed by his performance that she took his dance teacher to one side and suggested that he should audition for Billy Elliot the Musical. His dance teacher was delighted to be able to respond that he was going to be Billy Elliot
.
Billy Elliot was not Josh’s first stage performance. Fedrick first performed on stage with the Young Stagers Theatre Group in Saltash, Cornwall. He made his debut in Time Walk 2000. He has done a solo tap to the song Mammy and even danced dressed as Elvis
. He did several more shows with the group before moving on to an amateur dramatics group in Plymouth
called Touchwood
. Under the stewardship of its Chairman, David Bailey
, he went on to perform in many roles including Tiny Tim
in Scrooge
and one of the urchins in Oliver
. At Touchwood, Fedrick became friends and gained inspiration from Gavin Eden who is currently touring in The Nutcracker
. Gavin persuaded him to try ballet lessons and as a result, he became a Junior associate of the Royal Ballet School
at the age of ten. At the age of twelve, he became a Mid Associate. Despite having a 5 hour round trip every other Saturday to attend the Associate programme, he never lost his enthusiasm. He was even chosen from hundreds of applicants to attend the Royal Ballet School summer school in Richmond.
Fedrick made his debut in the London production of Billy Elliot on 12 November 2007. His one regret is that his grandfathers never got to see what he has achieved. Fedrick made his final appearance as Billy on 27 September 2008 after a total of 93 performances as Billy and 1 as Tall Boy.
Fedrick appeared on the show "Happy Birthday Brucie", which is celebrating the skills that Bruce Forsyth had for his 80th Birthday. The part that he took part on was a tap-dancing "competition" with Forsyth with a short comedy routine. They were seeing who could be more impressive with their routines, following Bruce claiming that anything Fedrick could do, he could do as well. Fedrick started off with easy moves, seeing that Forsyth was sat on a chair because "he broke his Zimmer frame". Soon, he began to do more advanced steps, such as jumping, and doing the spilts, so they did a tiny bit of a routine together, alongside the joke that Fedrick should call Bruce "Mr. Forsyth".
Billy Elliot the Musical
Billy Elliot the Musical is a musical based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot. The music is by Sir Elton John, and book and lyrics are by Lee Hall, who wrote the film's screenplay. The plot revolves around motherless Billy, who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes...
. He made his debut in the role on 12 November 2007. He made his last appearance in the role on 27 September 2008.
Biography
Fedrick was born in SaltashSaltash
Saltash is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a population of 14,964. It lies in the south east of Cornwall, facing Plymouth over the River Tamar. It was in the Caradon district until March 2009 and is known as "the gateway to Cornwall". Saltash means ash tree by...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to Liz and Lee Fedrick. He has two brothers, Lewis (2 years older), and Kieran (2 years younger). He also has pets, a dog named Twiggy (Lab/Collie
Collie
The collie is a distinctive type of herding dog, including many related landraces and formal breeds. It originates in Scotland and Northern England. It is a medium-sized, fairly lightly built dog with a pointed snout, and many types have a distinctive white pattern over the shoulders. Collies...
cross).
Career
Almost as soon as he could walk, Fedrick was doing cartwheels and acrobatics. Recognising his ability, his grandfather, Derek, suggested that Fedrick should try Gymnastics. His parents took him to a local centre where he was spotted by the gymnastics coach of the Plymouth Swallows.Fedrick started gymnastics at the age of three and quickly moved up through the grades, taking part in many competitions, achieving good result and obtaining many medals. At the age of ten, he won a gold medal with the South West team in the British gymnastics finals. Unfortunately, the coach that Fedrick had trained with for many years left and his interest in gymnastics waned. This resulted in him giving up the sport. However, at that time, his cousin wanted to take up dance lessons, but did not want to go alone. Fedrick offered to go with her to keep her company. His cousin only went for a few weeks, but he enjoyed the lessons and continued to attend. Eventually, he switched dance instructors and came under the tutelage of Deborah Bond. During this time, he entered many exams and achieved very high grades.
In 2005, he entered the Janet Cram dance competition, dancing to T-Rex’s Born to Boogie as featured in the movie Billy Elliot
Billy Elliot
Billy Elliot is a 2000 British drama film written by Lee Hall and directed by Stephen Daldry. Set in the fictional town of "Everington" in the real County Durham, UK, it stars Jamie Bell as 11-year-old Billy, an aspiring dancer, Gary Lewis as his coal miner father, Jamie Draven as Billy's older...
. He managed to reach the finals in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Stage Performances
Fedrick was invited to audition for Billy Elliot the MusicalBilly Elliot the Musical
Billy Elliot the Musical is a musical based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot. The music is by Sir Elton John, and book and lyrics are by Lee Hall, who wrote the film's screenplay. The plot revolves around motherless Billy, who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes...
and was successful. He then started the lengthy process of training including the summer intensives. Prior to commencing his training, he entered the Janet Cram Competition for the second time and again reached the finals in London. This time round, he was awarded the title for Most Outstanding Dance. The adjudicator was so impressed by his performance that she took his dance teacher to one side and suggested that he should audition for Billy Elliot the Musical. His dance teacher was delighted to be able to respond that he was going to be Billy Elliot
Billy Elliot
Billy Elliot is a 2000 British drama film written by Lee Hall and directed by Stephen Daldry. Set in the fictional town of "Everington" in the real County Durham, UK, it stars Jamie Bell as 11-year-old Billy, an aspiring dancer, Gary Lewis as his coal miner father, Jamie Draven as Billy's older...
.
Billy Elliot was not Josh’s first stage performance. Fedrick first performed on stage with the Young Stagers Theatre Group in Saltash, Cornwall. He made his debut in Time Walk 2000. He has done a solo tap to the song Mammy and even danced dressed as Elvis
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. He did several more shows with the group before moving on to an amateur dramatics group in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
called Touchwood
Touchwood
Touchwood is a shopping centre in Solihull, West Midlands, United Kingdom.-History:Opened in 2001 and costing £110 million to build, the centre was built on the former car parks behind the High Street....
. Under the stewardship of its Chairman, David Bailey
David Bailey
David Royston Bailey CBE is an English photographer.-Early life:He was born in Leytonstone, but his family were forced to move to Heigham Road, East Ham when a World War II bomb destroyed their home. Bailey was three years old, and this is where he and Thelma, his younger sister, were raised by...
, he went on to perform in many roles including Tiny Tim
Tiny Tim (A Christmas Carol)
Timothy Cratchit, called "Tiny Tim", is a fictional character from the 1843 novella A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. He is a minor character, the young son of Bob Cratchit, and is seen only briefly, but serves as an important symbol of the consequences of the protagonist's choices...
in Scrooge
Ebenezer Scrooge
Ebenezer Scrooge is the principal character in Charles Dickens's 1843 novel, A Christmas Carol. At the beginning of the novel, Scrooge is a cold-hearted, tight-fisted and greedy man, who despises Christmas and all things which give people happiness...
and one of the urchins in Oliver
Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress is the second novel by English author Charles Dickens, published by Richard Bentley in 1838. The story is about an orphan Oliver Twist, who endures a miserable existence in a workhouse and then is placed with an undertaker. He escapes and travels to...
. At Touchwood, Fedrick became friends and gained inspiration from Gavin Eden who is currently touring in The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St...
. Gavin persuaded him to try ballet lessons and as a result, he became a Junior associate of the Royal Ballet School
Royal Ballet School
The Royal Ballet School is one of the most famous classical ballet schools in the world and is the associate school of the Royal Ballet, a leading international ballet company based at the Royal Opera House in London...
at the age of ten. At the age of twelve, he became a Mid Associate. Despite having a 5 hour round trip every other Saturday to attend the Associate programme, he never lost his enthusiasm. He was even chosen from hundreds of applicants to attend the Royal Ballet School summer school in Richmond.
Fedrick made his debut in the London production of Billy Elliot on 12 November 2007. His one regret is that his grandfathers never got to see what he has achieved. Fedrick made his final appearance as Billy on 27 September 2008 after a total of 93 performances as Billy and 1 as Tall Boy.
Fedrick appeared on the show "Happy Birthday Brucie", which is celebrating the skills that Bruce Forsyth had for his 80th Birthday. The part that he took part on was a tap-dancing "competition" with Forsyth with a short comedy routine. They were seeing who could be more impressive with their routines, following Bruce claiming that anything Fedrick could do, he could do as well. Fedrick started off with easy moves, seeing that Forsyth was sat on a chair because "he broke his Zimmer frame". Soon, he began to do more advanced steps, such as jumping, and doing the spilts, so they did a tiny bit of a routine together, alongside the joke that Fedrick should call Bruce "Mr. Forsyth".