“Barbara Biba” introduces the story via an early glam rock band performing at the cusp of the 60’s & 70’s. We then cut to Jerusalem 1947 with the assassination of Barbara’s father and her evacuation to Europe. “Beside Me” is Barbara singing to her lost father and saying how she feels that he always remains with her.

Barbara stays with her Aunt Sophie, an ageing socialite who becomes a major influence on her subsequent styling, though Barbara is not to acknowledge her influence for some years.

The character of Aunt Sophie makes ghost like appearances as scenes change, commenting on Barbara’s progress.

Barbara meets and marries Steven Fitz-Simon and they develop a mail order dress business from their London flat. “This Little Dress” leads to Fitz assuming responsibility for the business side of their enterprise. Combining their close relationship and creativity, they agree they are “Someone You’d Love” to do business with. Of course the famous dress success brings “More Than” enough orders to start their own “Production Line” and the business starts to boom.

Discussing future strategies Barbara outlines her own belief in their potential. “Believe in Me” asserts her influence within the burgeoning fashion scene - an attitude and state of mind that was to sustain her through darker times.

They needed their own shop, and so to Abingdon Road.

Much hilarity around the arguments - she for style - he for business sense. These things are backed by “Swinging Sixties” music reminiscent of early Pop TV themes and Stax R’n’B. “You Really Wanna Know” and “Backing the Girls”. They need staff and they get various excited and attractive young women applying. Several of them recognise the potential of Biba, and one, Lizzie, extolls her thoughts and enthusiasm in “Part of it All” which crescendos to a chorus by the full cast. Some licentious behaviour is present when a customer loses her knickers and Fitz uses the moment to encourage everyone to “Try it on” in both senses.

There are featured cameos by what may or may not be famous stars of screen, music and art, throughout the first half. The clues are in the dialogue and should give baby boomers a chance to spot their childhood heroes.

Apart from store interiors, scenes feature the Ready Steady Go studio where the Broken Cherries perform an R’n’B tribute to Biba. Cut to the Church Street Biba store where more willing hands are carrying clothes in to the strains of the “Believe in me” theme. A crowd of photographers are celebrity spotting amongst the removals. The inside shots show the models, posers and hangers on gliding in and out of the store backed by the sound of “Oh so Cool” - spot the stars!

Next the Kensington High Street shop, beautifully done out; the communal fitting room is born. The entire staff celebrate the uniqueness and audacity of their new surroundings in “Hula Biba”.

The second half opens with workmen and cleaners co-working in the new store - well more than just co-working but it was the sixties after all!

Talk of the Biba financiers being taken over rubs Fitz up the wrong way and Barbara reassures him much more strongly to “Believe in me”. Fitz along with all of the staff agree that they do. The cosmetic range is launch to the grand strains of “The Mascara Run” and then the appearance of Sir James Toledo and his snooty wife cools the atmosphere somewhat. All subsequent banter is curtailed by an explosion - the Angry Brigade’s message of contempt for commerce and their perceived exploitation of women results in bombing the beautiful Biba emporium. “The Bomb Song” asks why.

A cock-up with moisturiser ordering begins to show cracks in the organisation. Fitz’s temper is tempered by the capture of Angry Brigade members. Remarks about the juxtaposition of dictators and constipation are interrupted by discussions of moving to an even bigger store. They decide to acquire the Derry & Toms building in Kensington High Street. Fitz does the deal - Big Biba is born -“Mirrors of Love”. Jim Toledo tries to take the credit! Things begin to go sour and a plethora of money problems lead to the grey suits gradually moving in. It was all down to “The Bottom Line”.

Barbara, Fitz and the staff become philosophical and conclude that at the end of the day it’s “Window Dressing”.

       It’s easy to live for tomorrow

       Yesterday’s pain is all gone

       Harder to take that you’ve made a mistake

       Lost the last bet without time to regret

       That’s how it has to be

  

Lights come up in the Rainbow Room. Barbara is in a tired and highly emotional state. She has been banned from her own store and is agitated and depressed. She puts her bottle down and sings about the corporate “Distrust for the Artist”. As a store, Biba’s days are numbered. Aunt Sophie appears at the closing down sale and The Exist Wounds enter to sing “Fun While it Lasted”.

Finale - Barbara and cast perform a grand chorus of “Beside me”.

       The End?