Betty Blue Eyes announces cast for first London revival

Casting has now been revealed for the upcoming production of Stiles and Drewe’s Betty Blue Eyes at the Union Theatre.

Based on Alan Bennett and Malcolm Mowbray’s film A Private Function and featuring a book by Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman, the show is set in Yorkshire during the post-World War II food rationing times, shortly before the Royal Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, where a pig named Betty is being illegally reared for a local celebratory banquet. The West End premiere received nominations for Best New Musical at both the Olivier and WhatsOnStage Awards.
The cast is led by Sam Kipling (Tasting Notes) as Gilbert Chilvers and Amelia Atherton (Waitress) as Joyce Chilvers, alongside Jayne Ashley (Cilla) as Mother Dear, David Pendlebury (Sweeney Todd) as Inspector Wormold, Stuart Simons (Passion) as Dr Swaby, recent graduate Josh Perry as Henry Allardyce,
Tom Holt (A Tropical Tale) as Francis Lockwood, Emma Jane Fearnley making her professional debut as Mrs Roach / Ensemble, Jade Marvin (Six) as Mrs Lester / Ensemble and Katie Stasi (The Wizard of Oz) as Mrs Turnbull / Ensemble. The role of Veronica Allardyce will be played by members of the Union Youth Theatre: Nellie Regan, Ava Jennings-Grant and Coco Bennett.

The company is completed by Laurel Dougall, Aimée McQueen, Shannon Farrell, Hannah Lawton, Kane Stone, Jonny Weston, Georgia Boothman and George Dawes.

Under the direction of Sasha Regan, the creative team also includes musical director Aaron Clingham, choreographer Kasper Cornish, designer Reuben Speed and casting director Adam Braham.

Produced by Regan and Stuart Simons, the piece marks the first in-house production at the Union Theatre since the pandemic.

Original West End producer Cameron Mackintosh recently revealed his desire to adapt the stage musical into a film with Sarah Lancashire reprising her leading role as Joyce.

Betty Blue Eyes is scheduled to run from 29 March to 22 April 2023, with a press night set for 4 April.

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