BILLY Elliot is hanging up its ballet shoes in London and getting ready to pirouette to Southampton in 2017, the Daily Echo can exclusively reveal.

The iconic musical, about a young miner's son who dreams of becoming a dancer, will leave the West End after 11 years and head out on an extensive UK tour, stopping at Mayflower Theatre next spring.

Set in a northern mining town in the mid '80s, against the background of the miners’ strike, Billy’s journey takes him out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and whole community and changes his life forever.

Acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, Billy Elliot the Musical has now been seen by nearly 11 million people across five continents and is the recipient of over 80 awards internationally, including ten Tony Awards and five Olivier Awards.

Billy Elliot the Musical is brought to life by the multiple award-winning creative team behind the film including writer Lee Hall (book and lyrics), director Stephen Daldry, and choreographer, Peter Darling, joined by Elton John who composed the show’s score.

Law & Order: UK actress Annette McLaughlin will play Mrs Wilkinson in the show. Her many West End musical theatre credits include Mrs Wormwood in Matilda and Velma Kelly in Chicago.

She is joined on stage by Martin Walsh, who is currently filming Rovers for Sky 1, as Billy's Dad. His other TV credits include Game of Thrones and Downton Abbey.

Les Miserables and Made in Dagenham actor Scott Garnham plays Tony and Andrea Miller, who has appeared in Sweeney Todd and Sister Act, is Grandma.

Last year, Billy Elliot the Musical celebrated its tenth birthday at Victoria Palace Theatre where it will play its final performance in April after 4,600 performances when the theatre closes for refurbishment.

Productions have previously been staged on Broadway, in Sydney, Melbourne, Chicago, Toronto and Seoul, South Korea. The highly successful North American touring production, which began in 2010, finished its spectacular run in August 2013 with an engagement in São Paulo, Brazil, the first time Billy Elliot played in South America. The first Japanese language production will open at the Akasaka ACT Theater in Tokyo in 2017 and further international productions are currently planned.

The Mayflower run is from Tuesday February 7 to Saturday March 4 2017.

Tickets go on sale on Tuesday February 2.