Betty Blue Eyes gets West End revival
Get the bunting back out!
The 2011 stage musical comedy Betty Blue Eyes is back for a limited West End run this year at the Union Theatre. Set in 1947, war has ended but Britain’s citizens are suffering under the burden of food rationing, high unemployment and the coldest winter for decades.
The only bright spark on the horizon is the impending marriage of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Enter Betty, an adorable pig who is being illegally reared to ensure local dignitaries of a small community in Yorkshire can celebrate the Royal Wedding with a lavish banquet whilst the local population make do with Spam.
Featuring a retro contemporary score by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, with a book by Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman, adapted and expanded from Alan Bennett and Malcolm Mowbray’s hilariously funny and sharply observed comic film ‘A Private Function’.
Betty Blue Eyes, directed by Sasha Regan, is the first in-house production at the Union Theatre since the pandemic.
George Stiles &Anthony Drewe said: “‘Betty’ was one of the most enjoyable shows of our 40-year career, both to write, develop and to have produced. We are thrilled that she’ll be able to bat her blue eyes once more at the Union Theatre, as our new King takes to the throne, the city will once again be buzzing with street parties and very Private Functions. Not seen in London since her run at the Novello Theatre in 2011, three cheers and welcome back, ‘Betty’!”
With the cast still yet to be announced the creative team include: Director Sasha Regan, Choreographer Kasper Cornish, Designer Reuben Speed, Casting Adam Braham, Produced by Sasha Regan & Stuart Simons.
Have a look at more musicals based on historic events:
Treason The Musical
Treason the musical drama is based on the events of the 1605 Gunpowder plot. Following the events leading up to it and the ultimate failure of the plot. The musical boasts a folk and pop medley and explores themes of love, secrecy, and the revolution. With an online concert in 2021 and two sold out concerts and an album featuring Lucie Jones and Carrie Hope Fletcher the production is now embarking on its world premiere in later 2023.
Hamilton
This musical takes place in 1780's onward and tells us the story of one of the founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton as he helps shape the United States of America. It opened on Broadway August 6th 2015 and has been breaking records ever since, being nominated for 16 Tony's and winning 11 as well as a Pulitzer prize and 7 Olivier awards too! A filmed version of the production was released on Disney + in 2020.
Six
A pop hit; this musical follows the lives of Henry the VIII's six wives. They each take centre stage to show who they truly are after living under their infamous husband's shadow. This all-female cast and band was a hit, first premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017. Six is now a Tony-winning musical entertaining audiences in the West-End, on Broadway and beyond.
Allegiance
A true story based on George Takei's life. Taking place in America 1941-2001, Allegiance explores a family's journey during World War II and their experience in the Japanese internment camps. The family struggles with their opposing views of America when anti-Japanese sentiments sweep across the country after Pearl Harbour. The musical run on Broadway from October 2015 to February 2016 and came to London in January 2023.
Diana, The Musical
Based on the life of Princess Diana, at 19 she was engaged and introduced to the Royal Family and thrusted into the spotlight at a young age. Directed by Christopher Ashley and written by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan, the production opened on Broadway November 2021 but closed just over a month later, however it is still available to watch on Netflix.
Evita
The iconic and hard to believe story of Eva Perón was immortalised in the musical Evita. Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, Evita follows the life of Argentine political figure Eva Perón the wife of Juan Perón. Showing early life in which, she was raised in a poor family to her rise to power and ultimately her death in 1952. The musical started as a concept album in 1976 before opening in the West End in 1978 wining an Olivier Award for best musical, subsequently opening on Broadway a year later in 1979.
Newsies
Starting as a film Newsies is based on the Newsboys strike of 1899 which took place in New York. The protagonist Jack Kelly and his group of work friends take on different publishers fighting for equality and justice. The film was released 1992 with the Broadway adaptation premiering in 2012 and its London debut in 2022.
Come From Away
Although the events in the musical are fictionalised Come From Away inspired by the events that took place during the attacks of 9/11 when 38 planes were ordered to land unexpectedly in the town of Gander in Newfoundland, Canada and how the town rallied together to help the stranded travellers. The hit musical opened on Broadway in 2017 and then opened in the West End in 2019 where it picked up four Olivier Awards. The Broadway production was filmed and can be streamed on Apple TV+.