Full casting has been announced ahead of the world premiere of Marcelo Dos Santos’s new comedy Backstairs Billy at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London.
Opening next month, the play stars Dame Penelope Wilton as The Queen Mother, and Hollywood star Luke Evans as her real-life loyal manservant William (Bily) Tallon.
Joining them will be Emily Barber (The Cost of Living – Hampstead Theatre) as Annabel Maud/Lady Astlebury; Iwan Davies (The Corn is Green – National Theatre) as Gwydion; Ian Drysdale (The Mirror and The Light – RSC) as Kerr; Ilan Galkoff (Leopoldstadt – West End) as Young Billy; Eloka Ivo (Black Superhero – Royal Court Theatre) as Ian; Michael Simkins (The Unfriend – West End) as Mr Harrington-Bahr/Hugo McCoyd; and Nicole Sloane (A Little Night Music – West End) as Mrs Harrington-Bahr/Lady Adeline.
The cast also features David Buttle, Amy Newton, Keanu Adolphus Johnson, Georgie Rhys and Jacob Ethan Tanner.
Backstairs Billy is directed by multiple Olivier Award-winning director Michael Grandage (The Policeman, Frozen The Musical), and will play the Duke of York’s theatre from 27 October 2023 to 27 January 2024.
A new teaser trailer for the show has also been released today.
The comedy centres on the true-life story of the Queen Mother (Penelope Wilton – Downton Abbey, After Life), and her most loyal servant William Tallon (Luke Evans – The Hobbit, Fast and Furious, Beauty and the Beast). Their relationship lasted for 50 years, and the play centres on a moment in their lives in 1979, as Margaret Thatcher is set to take to the world stage in British politics. Over at Clarence House, receptions are still in full swing and the champagne is flowing for the Queen Mother and her loyal servant Billy, but the two worlds start to collide with dizzying consequences.
The creative team for the show also includes 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.
Book tickets to Backstairs Billy at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London
