A stamp inspired a musical that conquered the world — but who was the real Eva?
Suzy Klein travels deep into the world of musical theatre, and the colourful landscapes of Argentina, to discover the story of one of the West End's most celebrated characters. Intertwining the stories of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's creation with the true story of Eva Peron, she celebrates the extraordinary show in the 40th year after its creation. Meeting musical stars including Elaine Paige, Hal Prince and Tim Rice, she hears how the show came into being, all inspired by a face on a postage stamp. She then travels to Argentina, meeting politicians, performers and Eva fans to hear how this intensely divisive figure - loved by the poor, loathed by the rich - became one of the enduring icons of our time.
Acting
Elaine Paige's raw recollections of originating an exhausting iconic role
Production
Juxtaposing West End glamour with Buenos Aires political complexity
Director
Victoria James
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Eva Peron's body was stolen, hidden, and displayed across three countries for 24 years after her death — the doc shows footage of her perfectly preserved corpse that even surprised embalmers.
The musical's 1976 concept album predated the stage show by two years and made Evita the first 'sung-through' blockbuster, essentially inventing the modern popera template before Les Mis existed.
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