Theatre
Theatre world pays tribute to Everton chairman Bill Kenwright
1 year ago
Sir Ian McKellen and Julian Clary are amongst the stars to have paid tribute to Everton chairman Bill Kenwright.
Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham also describes him as “big hearted.
Sir Ian McKellen has led the tributes to theatre and film producer Bill Kenwright, saying that showbusiness âwill be dimmer now he has gone.â
The Everton FC chairman died at the age of 78 âsurrounded by his family and loved onesâ, according to an official statement posted on the clubâs website.
Theatre and film production company Bill Kenwright Limited said in a statement published on Tuesday that he had died following a âlong battle with illnessâ and âpassed away peacefully last nightâ.
Sir Ian, 84, who starred in 2023 film The Critic â co-produced by Kenwright, penned a tribute to the football chair on X, formerly Twitter.
He said: âBill Kenwright (1945-2023) Like many grateful actors I am in debt to Bill Kenwright for employment.â
He added: âWe were young together, when he was in Coronation Street (as Gordon Clegg) and I was dipping a toe into Shaftesbury Avenue.
âSince then, I have admired the resilient way in which he encouraged theatre to thrive in London and in the regions.
âWhether it was yet another tour of that wonderful musical âBlood Brothersâ or sponsoring the Peter Hall Company in the classics.
âIn private, Bill relished gossip and loved to reminisce.
âHe seemed to have known everyone in the business and to care about them.
âYet every chat would veer round to his equal passion â Everton football.
âThe city that gave us The Beatles and two major football teams, also bred a unique impresario.
âWhether the West End lights will be turned off in his memory, certainly our business will be dimmer now he has gone.â
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham described Kenwright as âbig heartedâ and spoke about his reaction to the Hillsborough disaster where dozens were killed due to a crush at a match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield on April 15 1989.
Speaking to the PA news agency outside Old Trafford, he said: âI saw the care he had for the Hillsborough families when they were going through everything that they went through.
âThat was Bill Kenwright. Before people think about anything else, that was him, that was the man, just somebody of warmth, of generosity.â
British theatrical producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh called Kenwright âprolificâ and âirresistibleâ.
In a statement seen by the PA news agency, Sir Cameron said: âThe world of British theatre without Bill Kenwright seems impossible.â
He added: âBill was fearless, prolific and irresistible â he couldnât bear to see any theatre empty, so heâd conjure up a production almost overnight to fill it!
âHis enthusiasm knew no bounds, employing over his long career tens of thousands of actors â occasionally, including himself â a tireless broadcaster, often also a director and above all, a champion of the people he believed in.
âAnd the theatre wasnât even his day job â his real profession was running Everton!
âIn my lifetime, there has never been anyone like Bill. Heâs totally irreplaceable and we will miss him so.â
Also paying tribute to the theatre giant was comedian and actor Julian Clary, who said he would be âforever gratefulâ to Kenwright.
He said on X: âRIP Bill Kenwright. Iâm forever grateful to him for giving me the chance to play the Emcee in Cabaret at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue in 2007.
âAfter the first night he said to me âYouâre so braveâŚso brave!’â
Meanwhile singer Antony Costa, known for being a member of boyband Blue, also posted to X and said: âJust heard the news my friend, and mentor and the person who gave me the chance to perform on stage Mr Bill Kenwright has passed away.
âYou were one in a million Sir⌠we loved talking football R.I.P Bill xxâ
Comedian Jason Manford spoke of the producerâs âloveâ for theatre and football in another post to X.
He said: âSaddened to hear Bill Kenwright has died.
âMet up with him several times over the years as we attempted to work together so very sad that will now never happen.
âWas always funny and honest and with a deep love for theatre and football. Will be sadly missed.â
Kenwright produced âover 500 West End, Broadway, UK touring and international theatre productions, films and music albumsâ, according to a statement from Bill Kenwright Limited.
âHis impact on the arts industry has been profound,â they said, adding: âWe will remember him with huge love and admiration â the shows will of course go on, as he would have wished, and his towering legacy will continue.â
By the age of 12 Kenwright had made his entry on to the stage at the Liverpool Playhouse, attending the Liverpool Institute High School at the same time as Sir Paul McCartney and George Harrison and touring local pubs and clubs with his RânâB band The Chevrolets.
The theatre impresario and film producer had worked with Sir Tim Rice and Lord Lloyd-Webber on Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita and produced the hit West End show Blood Brothers.