The novel was also used as the basis for a sitcom made by London Weekend Television in 1973–1974, and starring Jeff Rawle as Billy. We'll email you regular details of new plays and half-price special offers on a broad range of theatre titles. }] It has since been produced all over the world, and has become a favourite with amateur groups. Billy Liar: A Play in Three Acts: Keith Waterhouse: Books - Amazon.ca.

The first production opened in the West End of London with Albert Finney in the title role. The work has inspired and featured in a number of popular songs. the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. Albert Finney, followed by Tom Courtenay, took the lead. 'active' : ''"> Billy Liar is very much of its time, but it has passed the test of time. The series was scripted by the play's writers, Waterhouse and Hall, and the action was updated to the 1970s. openEffect: "none", "They were two great performances," says Waterhouse. The play is set in one Saturday: Act 1 in the morning, Act 2 in the early evening, and Act 3 at night. He is an incurable liar, idle and dishonest, and to escape from his dull job as an undertaker's clerk and his dreary domestic background he imagines himself in so many different situations that truth and fiction become hopelessly intermingled.

The series was shown on the Seven Network in Australia during the non-ratings season of 1975–1976. they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. Enter your email to follow new comments on this article. Written in 1959, set in Yorkshire, it starred Tom Courtney in the title role of the inevitable film which followed West End stage success. Oldest first, -1) ? At the time, youth was very much on the up and up: we were just about to start on the heady 1960s, and things were happening all over. Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? will be published daily in dedicated articles.

"That's the arrogance of being young [he was 31]. The Song "William, It Was Really Nothing" by, It has been suggested that a local newspaper columnist parodied in both the book and the film bears a remarkable resemblance to the late-life Keith Waterhouse himself, when he was ensconced at the, This page was last edited on 29 September 2020, at 19:50.

The Complete series will be released on 07/05/2018. Rodney Bewes, Finlay Currie, and Leonard Rossiter also had roles. language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification, -1) ?
Bored by his job as a lowly clerk for an undertaker, Billy spends his time indulging in fantasies and dreams of life in the big city as a comedy writer. width: 690, Courtenay went on to star opposite Julie Christie in John Schlesinger's film. Based in the UK and the USA, we’ve been serving the online theatre community since the last century. try again, the name must be unique, Show{{#moreThan3_total}} {{value_total}} {{/moreThan3_total}} comments, You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful We can deliver any play in print to any country in the world - and we ship from both the US and the UK. The most insightful comments on all subjects Cast also included Gay Soper, Avis Bunnage, Bryan Pringle and Lockwood West. A teenager in a North Country town, Billy Fisher weaves a world of his own out of his day dreams. The semi-comical story is about William Fisher, a working-class 19-year-old living with his parents in the fictional town of Stradhoughton in Yorkshire. Even so, he was sure of its success. Are you sure you want to submit this vote? The play tells of the pathological charmer Billy Fisher who cannot tell the truth to save his life. 'active' : ''">

We’re primarily a family-run business and several of us also work in professional theatre. On 5 September 1959, Billy Liar was published. try again, the name must be unique, Please 'active' : ''"> It has never been rerun, although the first series was released on Region 2 DVD in August 2006. The action took place on a single set combining the living room, hallway, and porch of the Fisher household.


Oldest first, -1) ? The New Statesman thought that any affinity between Billy and Jim was superficial, "due to their similar predicaments and attitudes of self-mockery", and Waterhouse had "a remarkable gift for projecting himself under the skin of the modern adolescent". In the opening play of the 2020 season the Company presents Keith Waterhouse’ escapist comedy ‘Billy Liar’. Sharing the full story, not just the headlines, Billy Liar was published in the same week as Absolute Beginners, Colin MacInnes's powerful tale of a teenager in turbulent Notting Hill, which Waterhouse reviewed in the New Statesman ("there are few novelists writing about the late 1950s"). It was a "sad, savage, sick, funny book" (Sunday Times), "sardonic, fiercely comic, in a manner which is old-fashioned 'northern' rather than modern 'angry'" (Guardian).

Newest first, -1) ? Please But we’re all passionate about theatre and we all work hard to share that passion with you and the world’s online community.

try again, the name must be unique, Please

He is an incurable liar, idle and dishonest, and to escape from his dull job as an undertaker's clerk and his dreary domestic background he imagines himself in so many different situations that truth and fiction become hopelessly intermingled Billy Liar is very much of its time, but it has passed the test of time. The series was shown on CBC Television in Canada in 1975–1976. Keith Waterhouse's second novel received immediate acclaim, quickly matched by stage and screen adaptations. In 1960, the novel's author, Keith Waterhouse, co-wrote a three-act stage version with Willis Hall. You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. Most liked, -1) ? The book was by well-known British sitcom writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, where music and lyrics were by film composer John Barry and Don Black respectively. It's still very widely read.". In between, he finds solace and entertainment in a Walter Mitty-style fantasy life: he dreams of being a comedy writer in London, then pretends to be a powerful heroe. ", The best in film, music, TV & radio straight to your inbox, Register with your social account or click here to log in.

0 Billy Liar is unavoidably a play of its time: it takes approximately 40 seconds for Billy's gran to deliver the first of a series of off-colour remarks about black doctors. 'active' : ''">

Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when Billy is nagged by his mother, shouted at by his father and pursued by three local girls - he's engaged to two, but is in love with the third. 'active' : ''">

Start your Independent Premium subscription today. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss Newest first, -1) ?

try again, the name must be unique, Please The band North of Cornwallis has a song entitled "Billy Liar". Independent Premium.