The show premiered in London's West End at the newly opened Venue Theatre on January 29, 2002, produced by Adam Kenwright, written by Boy George & Mark Davies Markham with a cast that included Luke Evans, Euan Morton, Matt Lucas and was directed by Christopher Renshaw with choreography by Les Child and costume design by Mike Nicholls.

The cast, directed by Christopher Renshaw, included Boy George (credited under his real name, George O'Dowd), Euan Morton, Liz McCartney,[6] Raúl Esparza, Sarah Uriarte Berry, Jeffrey Carlson, and Cary Shields.

Although predominantly taking place some years after it concluded, the show is based partly on the New Romantic scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

At its core is the life and career of colourful pop star Boy George (who rose to global prominence in the early 1980s with his band Culture Club) and his contemporaries, including performance artist and club promoter Leigh Bowery, pop singer Marilyn, Blitz nightclub host Steve Strange (later of the electro-pop group Visage), and Philip Sallon, punk groupie and Mud Club promoter.

The show begins with Philip Sallon introducing us to all the New Romantics in London's Soho district ("Ode To Attention Seekers").

Next we enter the James family home where Billy lives with his mum, Josie, and dad, Derek who is unemployed thanks to the Thatcher era.

Billy finally snaps and decides it's time to leave home and move to London and discover himself.

Whilst walking around the streets, he runs into a cross-dressing drug dealer named Petal, but Phillip drags Billy away from him.

("Gimme A Freak") On arriving at the squat Billy is met by the fiery Kim, a punk looking girl who wants to be a fashion designer.

Billy goes to the kitchen with Kim whilst George reflects on his mother's unconditional love towards him ("Stranger In This World").

Steve Strange premieres his new hit record ("Fade To Grey"), but the rest of the revelers are sick of hearing the song so they pull the plug halfway through his performance.

We then meet Jane who works for the magazine ID, she asks George for a quote about the New Romantic scene and he gives one.

During the night we go into the men's bathroom at the club to find Leigh Bowery, an outrageous fashion designer and performance artist who traveled from his home land, Australia, to be a part of the New Romantic scene.

On her own Kim starts to question whether Billy will still like her even if she removes all her makeup and opens up to him, a prospect terrifying to her ("Pretty Lies").

("Love Is A Question Mark - Reprise") George, annoyed that Billy wants to be with Kim instead of him, joins Marilyn and heads down to Selfridges, a department store, to do some shopping.

After a quick run in with the sales girl who is disgusted at the appearance of both men the two discuss their fantasies of being famous ("Guttersnipe").

Jane storms out and as she does Billy bumps into her and tells her he's got some pictures of George and asks if the paper would buy them.

Jane isn't interested but, she hands Billy her card if he ever has any juicy stories about George and leaves.

Leigh is entering his latest creation in to a talent contest called the Miss Mud Day Queen Ball and wants Billy to model for him.

Rumors also start to fly that Billy is sleeping with Leigh, which get back to Kim leaving her heartbroken ("Church Of The Poisoned Mind").

Whilst at the club Josie and Kim decide to team up and create a fashion line of their own and rent a flat from Philip who is with them.

George now deeply affected by fame has begun to take drugs specifically with Petal and Marilyn at the club.

He takes an instant dislike to Philip and Kim and verbally abuses them causing Josie to kick him out.

("Ich Bin Kunst - Reprise") Billy has been away to New York to photograph Marilyn's first concert to launch his debut single.

Kim starts to come around but unfortunately her efforts are wasted as George turns up at the house and has a go at Billy for leaving him and going to New York with Marilyn.

Billy meets up with Jane and gives her pictures of George using drugs and the full story about his addiction.