Bill - The Musical to be staged by Handworth and Hallam Theatre Company

If you love the theatre and you enjoy a good laugh, then Billy - The Musical is not to be missed.
Ria Westhead appearing in Billy - The MusicalRia Westhead appearing in Billy - The Musical
Ria Westhead appearing in Billy - The Musical

Handsworth and Hallam Theatre Company take us to a fictional Yorkshire town and introduce us to Billy Fisher, a young industrial Yorkshire lad, a million dreams from London. Juggling three women and a tense home life, Billy reverts to childlike fantasy and dares to imagine another kind of life in London with Liz.

The show ‘Billy’ was a three-year smash hit at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 1974, which launched the stage career of Michael Crawford, it is a musical based on “Billy Liar” by Keith Waterhouse & Willis Hall. It’s 1960 and post-war Britain is about to come out of a long tunnel into the swinging sixties.

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Taking to the stage with Handsworth and Hallam Theatre Company for the first time is Ria Westhead from Walton. Ria studied Performing Arts at Chesterfield College and was awarded a scholarship to Arden Drama School which she attended for a year. She is no stranger to the spotlights and is delighted to be performing Billy for the second time, having played the role of both Liz and Barbara (a week each) during a two-week run of the show in 2011.

This time round however, Ria will be joining the cast as part of the ensemble. “I loved being in Billy as a principal role” Ria told us “but I missed out on being in all of the big numbers, and in Billy, they are all super big song and dance routines so this time I wanted to get my dancing shoes on. I am really enjoying rehearsals as it is such a funny show, we just have such a giggle doing it. I hope that comes across during our performance ”

If you want to catch Billy, it will be performed at the Montgomery Theatre, Surrey Street, Sheffield from June 17-20 at 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee. For tickets call 07586 293546 or email [email protected]

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