Matlock Musical Theatre’s concert in memory of stalwart John Kersey

Matlock Musical Theatre is to present a concert in memory of one of their stalwarts, John Kersey, who passed away earlier this year.

John performed in and helped produce many shows over the last 23 years. His enthusiasm for performing was infectious and members of the company have wanted to capture this in a nostalgic and fun evening to celebrate John’s contribution.

The show is at the Imperial Rooms, Matlock, on Saturday, November 1, at 7.30pm.

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Included in the programme will be a medley from Les Miserables, a show which John particularly loved, alongside many other favourites from shows he appeared in such as HMS Pinafore, Kiss Me Kate and Annie Get Your Gun.

John’s defining role was the character of Fagin in Lionel Bart’s Oliver!, staged twice by the company. In the first production he played Bill Sykes and was surprisingly good at being horrible.

‘Consider Yourself ‘ has been chosen to represent Oliver!, a song that also featured in their recent hit pantomime Beauty and the Beast. John was unforgettable as the pantomime dame, a role he’d never taken on before but which he fulfilled with the same gusto and humour his friends had become used to witnessing in rehearsals and performances over the years.

John always stepped up to the plate when called upon, whether as supporting player, leading man, director or chairman.

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There will be comedy too in the concert with a Two Ronnies sketch, a comic song about Anne Boleyn’s ghost, and the Stanley Holloway monologue ‘The Lion and Albert’. John was a great fan of Holloway and like him played Alfred P Doolittle on stage in My Fair Lady, a role memorable for the song ‘I’m Getting Married in the Morning’.

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Members of John’s family are featuring in the show. His niece, Madeline, will open the show with a rendition of The Acrobat. Madeline, like John a keen brass player, has learned to play the trombone especially for this performance.

John’s daughter, Kathryn has co-produced the show, She said: “We chose Magic Moments for the title of the show because we all shared so many with him”.

Tickets for this one-off performance cost £7 are available to purchase in person at The Black Cat Cafe, Dale Road, Matlock, or call Jim and Sue on 01773 826752.