Betty Blue Eyes is based on the 1984 film A Private Function, by Alan Bennett.[2] The show marked producer Cameron Mackintosh's first new musical in over 10 years[3] and when describing what drew him to the project (which he has described as "delicious"), Mackintosh said:
"The score was written by friends of mine, George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, whom I've known for 25 years and [who,] of course, did all the terrific new songs for Mary Poppins ... The book was written by two Americans [Cowen and Lipman], and it was their idea... I read it and I thought it was the most original piece I had read in a long, long time. I mean, I knew they were working on it, because the moment I heard it was a musical version of A Private Function — a film I loved, by Alan Bennett, which was very, very funny and off-the-wall — I was intrigued..."[4]
The first production outside the UK[10] and the shows American premiere took place at Music Theatre of Wichita in Wichita, Kansas from 24 to 28 July 2013.[11] Music Theatre of Wichita previously recorded the North American cast album for George Stiles and Anthony Drewe's musical Honk!. The production was directed by Wayne Bryan and featured Justin Robertson, Larry Raben, Tracy Lore, and Mary Stout.
In March 2014, a new production, directed by Daniel Buckroyd, opened at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester ahead of a UK Tour in a co-production between the Mercury Theatre Colchester, Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, Salisbury Playhouse and West Yorkshire Playhouse.[12][13]
In February 2018, the first German-speaking production, directed by Christian Brey, will open at Musiktheater Linz, Austria under the title Betty Blue Eyes - Das Musical mit dem Schwein. The German translation is provided by Roman Hinze.[14]
In March 2023, the first London Revival production of Betty Blue Eyes, directed by Sasha Regan, opened at the Union Theatre, London. The production had choreography by Kasper Cornish, musical direction by Aaron Clingham, set & costume design by Reuben Speed, lighting design by Alistair Lindsay, assistant direction by Michael Mather, assistant design by David Spence, stage management by Jack Evans, casting by Adam Braham and production by The Union Theatre & By The Sea Productions.
"Lionheart" — Joyce, The Billy Carroll Trio, The Company
"Steal the Pig" — Gilbert, Joyce, Swaby, Allardyce, Lockwood, Wormold, The Company
Act II
Entr'acte (The Pignap) — The Orchestra
"Another Little Victory" — Gilbert, Joyce, The Company
"Kill the Pig" (Reprise) — Joyce
"It's an Ill Wind" — Mrs Tilbrook, Townswomen
"Pig No Pig" — Joyce, Gilbert, Mother Dear, Wormold, Veronica
"The Kind of Man I Am" — Gilbert
"Since The War" — Swaby, Allardyce, Lockwood, Noble
"Betty Blue Eyes" (Reprise) — Gilbert, Allardyce
"A Private Function" (Reprise) — The Company
"Finale Ultimo" - Confessions — The Company
"Magic Fingers" (Reprise) — Gilbert, Joyce
"Goodbye Austerity Britain" — The Company
Cast album
Featuring 20 songs on the physical CD[15] with an additional two bonus tracks available as digital downloads only[16] from the London production of Betty Blue Eyes, the cast album was released by First Night Records[17] on 3 October 2011.[18] The recording was made at the Novello Theatre over five performances.[19]
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