This summer a 21-strong cast will take to the Playhouse stage for the regional première production of Betty Blue Eyes. The George Stiles and Anthony Drewe musical based on the Alan Bennett film A Private Function played to critical acclaim in the West End in 2011, picking up an Olivier Award nomination for Best New Musical. This updated production marries Alan Bennett’s hilarious story with a wonderfully witty musical score and is at the Playhouse from 9th July to 2nd August.
It’s fair shares for all in Austerity Britain! Except in the little town of Shepardsford, where humble chiropodist Gilbert Chilvers is struggling to bring home the bacon. The only light on the horizon is the social event of the year, a private function to celebrate the forthcoming royal wedding, and Gilbert’s wife Joyce is determined that they should be invited. However as the chance of an invitation slips out of reach, the Chilvers resolve that they must do whatever it takes to get their fair share of the banquet’s centrepiece – a rations-busting illegal pork roast!
The cast features Haydn Oakley as Gilbert Chilvers, fresh from his role in The Book of Mormon. Haydn’s extensive theatre credits include Wonderful Town at Manchester Royal Exchange, The Secret Garden at Edinburgh Festival Theatre and Passion at Donmar Warehouse. He has also appeared in Wicked and Spamalot.
Amy Booth-Steel, who recently appeared in the National Theatre’s The Light Princess, as Gilbert’s wife, the determined social-climber Joyce Chilvers. Amy’s stage credits include the National Theatre’s production of She Stoops To Conquer, the U.K. tour of One Man, Two Guvnors and the role of La Rosa in Sister Act at The London Palladium.
Playing Mother Dear, Gilbert’s interfering mother-in-law, is Sally Mates. No stranger to musical theatre, Sally was in the original R.S.C. and West End cast of Les Miserables. She appeared in the 25th anniversary concert at the O2 Arena, as well as the 2012 film. Sally has also appeared in the West End productions of Godspell and Fiddler On The Roof.
The play is choreographed by Andrew Wright who last worked at the Playhouse on Capital of Culture smash-hit Once Upon A Time at the Adelphi. His other credits include Singin’ In The Rain, Barnum and 42nd Street. Among the musical ensemble, Musical Director and Pianist Richard Reeday and brass musician Alex Smith both trained at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.
Featuring a raft of original songs including A Place On The Parade, Magic Fingers, Lionheart and the hilarious Pig, No Pig, Betty Blue Eyes is one of the finest (and funniest) new British musicals to have appeared in recent years and is guaranteed to send you home with a spring in your step.
Tickets for Betty Blue Eyes are available from the Playhouse Theatre Box office, online at www.everymanplayhouse.com or by telephone on 0151 709 4776. Tickets are priced at £10-24.