MUSICAL comedy Betty Blue Eyes is bringing fun and farce to Salisbury Playhouse next month.

A cast of 21 is taking to the stage from April 24 to May 17 for the show, which is based on an original screenplay by Alan Bennett.

The show is set in 1947 austerity Britain and tells the story of humble chiropodist Gilbert Chilvers and his ferocious wife Joyce.

Joyce is being played by Amy Booth-Steel, who made the final 12 in BBC’s search for Nancy in I’d Do Anything.

She said: “My character has been married to Gilbert for about eight years, but he’s not really living up to her expectations. She’s a social climber and she wanted more out of life and she blames him quite a lot.

“It’s just a really fun, really fast-paced farce and the cast are fantastic.”

Booth-Steel has recently appeared in the National Theatre’s The Light Princess, and she has also been in She Stoops To Conquer; One Man, Two Guvnors; and Sister Act at The London Palladium.

She didn’t train in musical theatre and she said appearing on I’d Do Anything helped boost her acting career.

“It was amazing,” she said.

“I can’t believe I got onto the show, beating thousands of others.”

Taking the role of Gilbert Chilvers in Betty Blue Eyes is Haydn Oakley, who has appeared in The Book of Mormon, Wicked and Spamalot, as well as Wonderful Town at Manchester Royal Exchange, The Secret Garden at Edinburgh Festival Theatre and Passion at Donmar Warehouse.

Booth-Steel said: “I would say it is a perfect night out for a bit of a giggle. It has got a fantastic feel, good songs and it’s very vibrant – with people playing instruments on stage.

Just be prepared to be surprised by the pig.”

For tickets, contact the box office on 01722 320333 or visit salisburyplayhouse.com.