Bill Kenwright, a man who successfully combined his love for football and theatre, passed away at the age of 78 after a long battle with illness. Kenwright was known as the chairman of Everton FC, the football team he supported since childhood, and as a prolific producer of numerous West End and touring shows that transcended his generation. Despite some setbacks in his career, Kenwright remained committed to promoting talent and raising money, which ultimately led him to sell a 49.9% stake in Everton to the Iranian billionaire Fahrad Moshiri in early 2016.
Kenwright’s life was marked by upheavals, such as rumblings and boardroom splits, plans to move Goodison Park to a new ground, and the sale of Wayne Rooney to Manchester United. As a result, the pressure in Kenwright’s life must have been unbearable, especially when Everton’s fortunes on the field of play took a turn for the worse. The club also faced backlash from disappointed supporters who criticized Kenwright and his fellow directors for not attending fixtures at Goodison Park.
Despite facing several ups and downs, Kenwright remained passionate and enthusiastic about his work. As a producer, he was responsible for successfully transforming Willy Russell’s musical Blood Brothers into one of the longest-running shows of all time. Kenwright was also entrusted with the touring franchise of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber for 34 years. He also participated in several valorous endeavors, such as the preservation of Liverpool Playhouse and the presentation of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Kenwright’s loyalty to his hometown of Liverpool and his family was unwavering. He spent his childhood at Booker Avenue primary school before moving to Liverpool high school. Kenwright then joined the National Youth Theatre and preferred working as a call boy at Liverpool Playhouse rather than attending university. He eventually became an actor, landing the role of Gordon Clegg on the soap opera Coronation Street and playing the part on and off from 1968 to 1982. Kenwright then transitioned to theatre production, beginning with a tour of Billy Liar and ultimately becoming one of the most successful producers of his time
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