
Backstairs Billy Tickets
Penelope Wilton and Luke Evans star in Michael Grandage's new comedy Backstairs Billy!To be confirmed.
Performance dates
27 October 2023 - 27 January 2024
Run time To be confirmed.
Includes interval
- Show info
- Accessibility
- Reviews
- News
Tickets for Backstairs Billy are available now!
Now that’s history! Don’t miss out on the hilarious new comedy Backstairs Billy from Marcelo Dos Santos, presented by the Michael Grandage company. In a royal affair like no other, Backstairs Billy examines a crucial period during the 50-year friendship between the Queen Mother and her devoted butler Willian ‘Billy’ Tallon during a time of political and social chaos. Tickets for Backstairs Billy at The Duke of York’s Theatre are available now, book your tickets today, your majesty!
The story of Backstairs Billy
The year is 1979. The champagne is flowing and The Queen Mother's lively receptions are in full swing inside the opulence of Clarence House! William "Billy" Tallon, the guardian of the royal corgis and a devoted assistant to Her Majesty, is in charge of the proceedings.
Beyond the lavish walls, strikes have gripped a nation that is falling apart. Britain is on the verge of changing seismically under Margaret Thatcher, and as these two contrasting worlds are on course for collision, a whirlwind of consequences are about to unfold...
The cast and creatives of Backstairs Billy
Michael Grandage (Frozen, Orlando, A Midsummer Night's Dream and many more) directs Penelope Wilton (Ever Decreasing Circles, Downton Abbey, The Borrowers) as the Queen Mother and Luke Evans (Immortals, The Raven, Beauty and The Beast) as Billy, with further casting yet to be announced.
Backstairs Billy tickets are available now!
Book your royal appointment to see Penelope Wilton and Luke Evans shine in Michael Grandage’s highly-anticipated new comedy. Don’t miss out on Backstairs Billy, it’s one for the history books! Book your tickets now!
Access
Captioned: 23 November. Audio Described: 29 November. BSL: To be confirmed.Recent Reviews
This production was a really well presented look into the lives of the characters. Penelope as The Queen Mum was outstanding, and her comic timing a Joy ! Luke as Billy was as Camp as a row of tents. The Dark political Message in the production I feel was unnecessary. Overall an enjoyable evening. Well done to all the Cast and Production Team.
Outstanding, hilarious, performances from the entire cast, Luke Evans and Penelope Wilton were superb, delivering the quality dialogue with professionalism, that was first class and worthy of any theatre performance. Congratulations.
Superbly funny; brilliant acting but also made you feel uncomfortable at the attitudes of the time. Highly recommend
Absolutely hilarious! Oustanding acting! Enjoyed every minute! Bravo!
Great evening superb cast
Excellent play. It was absolutely hilarious which I wasn't expecting. Luke Evans and Penelope Wilton were fantastic. So glad I got to see it.
What a lovely time at the theatre. The play was Excellent and was a triumph especially the second half. Penelope and Luke were delightful and yes I would love to see the play again before it closes. I was expecting to hear the National Anthem at the end of the show. Now we know through the play that Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was a mother figure for all the gays. Bless her ????
An amazing evening that exceeded all my expectations
Excellent performances and stage production. A play I'll remember seeing for a long time to come.
I was thrilled to be part of this truly professional performance with first class actors. It brought a much needed smile to my face with their wit but not ignoring the underlying pathos.10/10
It was a wonderful production and very amusing to me as I knew the two main characters. The seating in the upper circle is excruciating particularly for the larger gent.
Great show with fantastic performances
Latest Backstairs Billy News

News / Interviews
Backstage at Backstairs Billy
We’ve made like our favourite Christmas Cracker joke and turned into a couple of Mince Spies, going behind the scenes at Backstairs Billy to get the lowdown on the royal event of the year. Emily Barber has been our inside accomplice, and who better to talk to us about the show than someone who stars in it, twice. The Bridgerton actor plays not one, but two roles in the critically acclaimed production, portraying Annabel Maud and Lady Astlebury.
Annabel Maud is the star of one of Her Majesty’s favourite TV shows, which is ironic as Penelope Wilton, who plays the Queen Mother, is the star of some of Barber’s favourite films and shows ‘you can’t help but treat her like she’s royalty.’
Barber also admires Luke Evans, who played her fiancé in the brilliant Netflix series The Alienist, 'when I read this play, he was the first person that came to my mind, which is fascinating. Once I found out I was like, I should be a casting director! He is perfect for the role and it’s been really lovely being in the room with him'.
As well as enjoying her co-stars’ company, Barber also gets a thrill from The Village People, Nat King Cole and the prospect of a PJ day…
18 Dec, 2023 | By Sian McBride

News / Interviews / New Shows + Transfers
Interview with Backstairs Billy playwright Marcelo Dos Santos
2023 has been a right royal year! We’ve had a coronation, a royal baby and even a tell-all memoir! Don’t pack away that bunting and relegate the commemorative plates to the cupboards just yet, as the crowning glory in this year’s royal calendar will be taking place next month, and you are cordially invited.
Hailed as an ‘important new voice’ by director Michael Grandage, Marcelo Dos Santos latest play explores the complex relationship between the Queen Mother and her loyal steward, William “Billy” Tallon. The production, which stars Luke Evans and Penelope Wilton, centres around a pivotal point in their 50-year friendship, where strikes are bringing Britain to its knees and the class divide is growing by the minute.
We sat down with the award-winning playwright ahead of his West End debut, to discuss the challenges in depicting such iconic characters for stage, his subconscious miming abilities, and why chocolate is just as important as a laptop (or notebook) when writing for theatre.
14 Sep, 2023 | By Sian McBride
Keep me updated
We'll tell you as soon as tickets go on sale: