{"id":1455,"date":"2014-04-11T12:36:11","date_gmt":"2014-04-11T11:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.samyatesdirector.com\/?page_id=1455"},"modified":"2015-03-14T13:12:31","modified_gmt":"2015-03-14T13:12:31","slug":"billy-liar-by-keith-waterhouse-and-willis-hall-royal-exchange-manchester","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.samyatesdirector.com\/?page_id=1455","title":{"rendered":"Billy Liar by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall, Royal Exchange Manchester"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">12th June &#8211; 13th July 2014, Manchester Royal Exchange | <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.royalexchange.co.uk\/event.aspx?id=780\">Book Tickets<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">WINNER Best Actor (Harry McEntire) and Best Newcomer (Emily Barber) at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/whats-on\/arts-culture-news\/winners-revealed-star-studded-manchester-theatre-8838756\">The Manchester Theatre Awards 2015.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Billy Fisher is a 19 year-old nobody. He lives at home and has a dead-end job. Yet while the northern lad harbours dreams of running away to London, Billy\u2019s plans are threatened by missing stationery and pocketed postage money, hoodwinked fianc\u00e9es and, in the end, his own indecisiveness.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3gkfZtjTmNU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Keith<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>Waterhouse<\/strong>\u2019s tale of northern life in 1960s Britain captures a country on the edge of seismic change. One of Britain&#8217;s most exciting young actors, Harry McEntire, plays Billy Fisher.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.royalexchange.co.uk\/event.aspx?id=780\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1501\" src=\"http:\/\/samyatesdirector.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/BILLY-LIAR-Period-4-682x1024.jpg\" alt=\"BILLY LIAR Period 4\" width=\"409\" height=\"614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samyatesdirector.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/BILLY-LIAR-Period-4-682x1024.jpg 682w, https:\/\/samyatesdirector.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/BILLY-LIAR-Period-4-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/samyatesdirector.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/BILLY-LIAR-Period-4.jpg 1050w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 409px) 100vw, 409px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Photography by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.kevincummins.co.uk\">Kevin Cummins<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Director<\/strong>\u00a0Sam Yates<br \/>\n<strong>Designer<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/davidwoodheaddesign.com\">David Woodhead<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Lighting designer<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.davidrobertplater.com\">David Plater<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Composer and sound designer<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.isobelwaller-bridge.com\">Isobel Waller-Bridge<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Movement director<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.belfieldandward.com\">Ann Yee<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Casting<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>director<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/sophieparrottcasting.com\">Sophie Parrot<\/a><\/p>\n<h1>Reviews<\/h1>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/stage\/2014\/jun\/19\/billy-liar-review-hilarious-revival-play-keith-waterhouse\">4**** THE GUARDIAN | Alfred Hickling<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u201cTeenage dreamer is as witty as ever in a fine revival\u2026 Sam Yates\u2019 production is played admirably straight to often hilarious effect.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a title=\"Billy Liar Independent Review\" href=\"http:\/\/www.samyatesdirector.com\/?page_id=1555\">4**** THE INDEPENDENT |\u00a0Paul Vallely<\/a><\/span>\u00a0&#8220;Pitch-perfect acting&#8230;Harry McEntire as Billy &#8211; by turns charming, witty, urbane and profoundly self-deluded &#8211; is a reminder that Billy does not inhabit the world of Kingsley Amis&#8217;\u00a0<em>Lucky Jim<\/em>\u00a0but that of the stifling anger of John Osborne with the black humour of Joe Orton&#8230; Sam Yates&#8217;s ending to the production offers more ambiguity as to why Billy remains trapped than Waterhouse&#8217;s novel does. The ending feels bleaker. But it makes it a Billy Liar for our times.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.whatsonstage.com\/manchester-theatre\/reviews\/06-2014\/billy-liar-royal-exchange-theatre-manchester_34781.html\">4**** WHAT&#8217;S ON STAGE |\u00a0Julia Taylor<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u201cSam Yates finds the sadness beneath the humour in Keith Waterhouse\u2019s celebrated text and it works wonderfully well\u2026The poignant moments creep up on you and leave a lasting impact.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thepublicreviews.com\/billy-liar-royal-exchange-theatre-manchester\/\">4**** THE PUBLIC REVIEWS |\u00a0Laura Maley<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u201cBilly Liar needs a strong central performance and Harry McEntire brings that\u2026 Rebekah Hinds is an understated comic gem as Barbara.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a title=\"Billy Liar The Times Review\" href=\"http:\/\/www.samyatesdirector.com\/?page_id=1549\">3*** THE TIMES | Kate Bassett<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s fabulous\u2026. Revived commendably by rising director Sam Yates\u2026 (Harry McEntire\u2019s) physical comedy is highly entertaining. And his waving arms, in the final moments, become frenzied, his body thrashing into a searing blur of complete breakdown.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/thegoodreview.co.uk\/2014\/06\/billy-liar-royal-exchange-manchester\/\">4**** THE GOOD REVIEW | Tracey Lowe<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u201cThe cast are absolutely outstanding\u2026 does great justice to a wonderful, witty story.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.morningstaronline.co.uk\/a-acdb-Fibber-on-stage-beats-the-page#.U6vVVxZedSU\">4**** TH<\/a>E MORNING STAR<\/span>\u00a0&#8220;Sam Yates\u2019s excellent direction and a brilliantly engaging cast&#8230; Harry McEntire is a wonderful Billy, making what could be an obnoxious teenager into a vulnerable, scared and sad character whose dream world is neither feckless nor malicious.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.northernsoul.me.uk\/billy-liar-at-manchesters-royal-exchange\/\">4**** NORTHERN SOUL |\u00a0Lucia Cox<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u201cThe cast are sublime under the direction of Sam Yates\u2026 The sad, lamenting ending is a terrible punch to the guts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk\/what-s-on\/theatre-comedy\/review-billy-liar-royal-exchange-manchester-1-6686088\">4**** BLACKPOOL GAZETTE | David Upton<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u201cYates reins the play in from becoming physical farce and instead concentrates on it\u2019s brooding satire.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.4manchesterwomen.co.uk\/ridiculously-lively\/billy-liar-at-the-royal-exchange\/\">4**** MA<\/a>NCHESTER WOMEN<\/span>\u00a0&#8220;The latest incarnation of Billy Liar, directed by Sam Yates, is perfectly cast with particularly memorable performances from Harry McEntire as Billy and Katie Moore as Rita.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/manchestertheatreawards.com\/reviews\/476\">MANCHESTER THEATRE AWARDS\u00a0| David Upton<\/a><\/span>\u00a0&#8220;Fine care has been taken with casting throughout, and around Billy are family and girlfriends rooted in all-too-apparent reality.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.themanchesterreview.co.uk\/?p=3844\">THE MANCHESTER REVIEW\u00a0| Peter Wild<\/a><\/span>\u00a0&#8220;Jack Deam\u2019s description of a deathbed scene that we are not privy to \u2013 is worth the price of admission alone&#8230; A strong production with an exemplary cast.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">EXEUNT MAGAZINE\u00a0| John Murphy<\/span>\u00a0&#8220;The beauty of Sam Yates\u2019 production \u2013 his debut for the Royal Exchange \u2013 lies in the detailed approach to character and the performances.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.messengernewspapers.co.uk\/leisure\/theatre\/11295449.You_d_better_believe_it___Billy_Liar_is_class\/\">MESSENGER | Rick Bowen<\/a><\/span>\u00a0&#8220;A\u00a0beautifully crafted, laugh out loud funny and poignant piece of writing featuring a memorable performance from Harry McEntrie&#8221;<\/p>\n<h1><strong>Cast<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/samyatesdirector.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/BL-cast-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1465 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/samyatesdirector.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/BL-cast-1.png\" alt=\"BL cast 1\" width=\"714\" height=\"469\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samyatesdirector.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/BL-cast-1.png 893w, https:\/\/samyatesdirector.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/BL-cast-1-300x196.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 714px) 100vw, 714px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>12th June &#8211; 13th July 2014, Manchester Royal Exchange | Book Tickets WINNER Best Actor (Harry McEntire) and Best Newcomer (Emily Barber) at The Manchester Theatre Awards 2015.\u00a0 Billy Fisher is a 19 year-old nobody. He lives at home and has a dead-end job. Yet while the northern lad harbours dreams of running away to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1455","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samyatesdirector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1455","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samyatesdirector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samyatesdirector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samyatesdirector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samyatesdirector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1455"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/www.samyatesdirector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1455\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1808,"href":"https:\/\/www.samyatesdirector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1455\/revisions\/1808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samyatesdirector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1455"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}