No longer booking
  • Venue Duke of York's Theatre, London
  • Performance dates Booking to 27 January 2024
  • Running time 2 hours 15 minutes (including interval)
  • Age guidelines 14+

★★★★★ “Penelope Wilton makes a marvellous Queen Mother in the best royal drama in a decade” – Telegraph

Luke Evans and Penelope Wilton star in Backstairs Billy at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London.

This joyful and compassionate new comedy is written by Marcelo Dos Santos (Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going to Happen), and directed by Michael Grandage (Frozen).

Backstairs Billy is the story of the Queen Mother (Penelope Wilton) and her most loyal servant William Tallon (Luke Evans), who served the royal family for over 50 years.

The comedy stars British theatre royalty Dame Penelope Wilton (Downton Abbey, After Life, Taken at Midnight) and Hollywood superstar Luke Evans (Fast and Furious, Beauty and the Beast, Piaf).

Backstairs Billy is playing at the Duke of York’s theatre from 27 October 2023 to 27 January 2024.

Set in 1979, when strikes are bringing the country to its knees and Britain is about to seismically change under Margaret Thatcher, it is business as usual for the Queen Mother and her loyal servant Billy inside Clarence House. Receptions are in full swing and the champagne is flowing as the two worlds start to collide with dizzying consequences.

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Performance Information

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Stars and Creatives

Penelope Wilton
Penelope Wilton
Luke Evans
Luke Evans

Who is in the cast of Backstairs Billy?

Penelope Wilton as the Queen Mother, and Luke Evans as William Tallon.

The cast also includes Emily Barber as Annabel Maud/Lady Astlebury; Iwan Davies  as Gwydion; Ian Drysdale as Kerr; Ilan Galkoff as Young Billy; Eloka Ivo as Ian; Michael Simkins as Mr Harrington-Bahr/Hugo McCoyd; Nicole Sloane as Mrs Harrington-Bahr/Lady Adeline; and David Buttle, Amy Newton, Keanu Adolphus Johnson, Georgie Rhys and Jacob Ethan Tanner.

Who are the creative team of Backstairs Billy?

Written by Marcelo Dos Santos, and directed by Michael Grandage.

Other creatives include: Set Design by Christopher Oram; Costume Design by Christopher Oram and Tom Rand; Lighting Design by Ryan Day; Music and Sound design by Adam Cork; Wigs, Hair & Makeup Design by Carole Hancock; Casting Director Jacob Sparrow; Associate Director Sophie Drake; Costume Supervisor Mary Charlton.

Venue Information

Duke of York's Theatre , 45 St Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4BG

Nearest Tube or Train: Leicester Square (Northern line, Piccadilly line), Charing Cross (Northern line, Bakerloo line), Embankment (Northern line, Bakerloo line, District line, Circle line)

Nearest Buses: 14, 19, 22, 24, 29, 38, 40, 176

Directions

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Critics' reviews of Backstairs Billy

★★★★★ "Penelope Wilton makes a marvellous Queen Mother in the best royal drama in a decade" - The Telegraph

★★★★ "An early festive delight" - The Independent

★★★★ "Penelope Wilton shines in a royal farce" - The Times

★★★★ "There’s something gleefully subversive about Dos Santos’s script and Grandage’s bouncy production" - TimeOut

★★★★ "Penelope Wilton makes a magnificent Queen Mother" - i News

★★★★ "Comic royal cocktail with a splash of spice" - Daily Mail

Also see: Backstairs Billy Reviews Round-up

Frequently Asked Questions

Backstairs Billy is playing at the Duke of York's Theatre in London
The running time of Backstairs Billy is 2 hours 15 minutes (including interval)
The age recommendations for Backstairs Billy are: 14+
Yes, Backstairs Billy has matinee performances on the following days: Wednesday, Saturday
No, sorry, Backstairs Billy has now completed its run and is no longer on sale.

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