Billy - April 2006

Based on the hilarious classic - Billy Liar

CAST LIST

 Billy Fisher - Simon Pugh
Geoffrey Fisher - Mac Hammond
Alice Fisher - Marina Bray
Gran Fisher - Val Simpkiss
Arthur Crabtree - Karl Veltman
Shadrack - Roger Stokes
Stamp - Steve Bickley
Councillor Duxbury - John Arnold
Liz - Sally Pugh
Barbara - Lydia Simpkiss
Rita - Colette Edwards
Mrs. Crabtree - Chris Spittle
Marilyn Munroe - Nikki Rai
Bandleader - Mark Friedl

Synopsis

Billy", the musical, is based on the hilarious novel 'Billy Liar' by Keith Waterhouse. It was adapted for the stage by those legends of comedy, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and the writing is strong and witty with the various northern characters very cleverly drawn. The accompanying John Barry score is full of variety, with plenty of toe-tapping numbers interspersed with rousing choruses and more lyrical songs.

Set in 1960s Yorkshire, the plot follows working class dreamer Billy Fisher as he tries to cope with (as he sees it) his less-than-understanding family, his dead-end job and his rapidly disintegrating love life. As Billy tries to juggle the demands of three totally different girlfriends and becomes more and more depressed by his dreary surroundings, he escapes into his fantasy land of Ambrosia. There he can become a much-decorated War Hero, a successful Script-Writer, talented Film Star or Rock Idol! BUT, given the opportunity he has always imagined, can Billy finally turn his fantasies into reality? Or, will his dreams prove to be too exciting to leave behind?

This lively musical recreates both Billy's 'real' life and his amazing fantasy world.

We expect "Billy" to be another theatrical experience not to be missed.

Poor old Billy - in his dreams he can be all the things he longs to be, far away from Stadhoughton which is ".... full of lasses with headscarves pushing prams. And big women rolling along on bad feet. And grey old men in cloth caps reading their racing papers." To Billy his home town is a bad Yorkshire joke and the dimmer his surroundings, the more fantastic his compensatory daydreams like his imaginary country "Ambrosia". Neither his family nor his undertaker employers take kindly to his fantasies; nor do his three girlfriends - at least two of whom he is engaged to!! Liz, the third, gives him a chance to escape. Can Billy make a fantastic reality from his fantastic fantasies?? Or will he close his bedroom door and carry on dreaming?

Based on the hilarious classic "Billy Liar", the creators of "The Likely Lads" and "Porridge" have produced a wonderful musical which in its original West End run made a star of Michael Crawford and included a little known Elaine Page as one of Billy's girlfriend.