Biography

Billy Stookes is a London-based drummer and percussionist working across West End theatre, international touring, live music and recording.

Graduating from The Guildhall School of Music & Drama with a degree in Jazz Drums and Percussion, Billy has over a decade of professional experience. Credits include hit shows such as Wicked, Saturday Night Fever, Heathers and One Man Two Guvnors. His concert work includes Blade Runner Live and The Terminator Live, with performances at prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall, The Eventim Apollo and Herodes Atticus, Athens. More recently, he has performed on kit for Rhythm Riot with the English National Ballet Philharmonic and at the Terminator 2: Judgment Day World Premiere.

Billy performed with Dexys Midnight Runners over several years and also tours Europe regularly with PM Warson. Alongside his performance career, Billy has worked as a percussion coach for a cast at the National Theatre and as an accompanist for music examinations at The London College of Contemporary Music.

An adaptable and versatile musician, Billy brings extensive experience across theatre, session playing and live performance.

Selected Credits

West End & Theatre

  • Wicked — Apollo Victoria Theatre, West End (Deputy Drummer, 2023–present)

  • Heathers: The Musical — Chair holder, The Other Palace, West End (2023) and deputy (UK Tour, 2026)

  • Cruel Intentions The Musical (deputy, London 2024)

  • Saturday Night Fever — West End, UK Tour and Tokyo (2019–2022)

  • One Man, Two Guvnors — National Theatre, international tour (Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong Arts Festival, Adelaide Festival & Auckland Arts Festival) and Theatre Royal Haymarket (deputy, 2012–2014)

  • Aladdin — Gordon Craig Theatre (Deputy Drummer, 2021–2022)

  • Peter Pan — Sunderland Empire (2018–2019)

  • This Is Elvis — UK Tour (2018)

  • Murder Ballad — Arts Theatre, West End (2016)

  • The Beaux’ Stratagem — The Royal National Theatre and NT Live (Percussion, 2015)

  • Drunk — Leicester Curve and London Bridewell, The McOnie Company (2014)

  • The El Train 2013

Film in Concert & Orchestral Performances

  • English National Ballet Philharmonic — Rhythm Riot (Deputy, Drums, 2026)

  • Terminator 2: Judgment Day — World Premiere performance, Eventim Apollo, 2026

  • Blade Runner Live — World Premiere performance, The Royal Albert Hall, UK Tour and Tokyo, Paris, Athens, Barcelona, Dublin, Madrid (Drums & Percussion, 2019–present)

  • The Terminator Live — KKL Lucerne, Orchard Hall, Tokyo and Festival Hall, Osaka (Drums & Percussion, 2019–2020) and various dates to present

Artists & Live Music

  • Dexys — Live performances, television and radio appearances including the Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony (BBC), Greatest Albums Live (Sky Arts), This Morning (ITV) and BBC Radio 2 (2016–2023)

  • Clive Rowe — Crazy Coqs 2025

  • Tom Seals — Various 2024/2025

  • PM Warson — European Tours and festivals (2021 - present), albums A Little More Time (2024), Dig Deep Repeat (2022) and True Story (2021), all on Legere Recordings

  • Carmy Love and PM Warson — ‘You Gotta Understand’ Acid Jazz Records (No.2 Official UK Vinyl Chart)

  • Denver Cuss — All Together Now Festival, Ireland (2026)

  • The Bluejays — (Deputy, 2022 - present)

  • Tanita Tikaram (2016)

    Additional Experience

  • Percussion coaching for casts at the National Theatre

  • Music examination accompaniment at LCCM

  • Backing vocals for a range of artists and productions

  • Playing in productions for some of the UK’s leading theatre schools, such as Emil Dale and Performers College.

  • Corporate gigs - including Amazon, Facebook and Google, working with London’s top agencies such as Euphonica, ALR and regularly with Boujee Music.