2019/20 Bill Kenwright

[summerisle]

We all have opinions about actors,personally I don't think Johnny Depp can act at all. But its vary rare for anybody who is 'diabolical' to get any work at all, and Bill worked regularly on the stage and in TV, even in a long running musical in his early days. I think your opinion of him as an actor is coloured by your opinion of him as a football chairman,and does not come from any knowledge of acting skills.Incidentally, a few years ago Bill Kenwright Productions made a profit of £14 million...and that was just from movies. Educating Rita, to which he bought rights before it was ever produced, and Stepping Out, to which he owns stage rights, and not forgetting Blood Brothers which like Rita, is always in performance somewhere in the world, are all contributing to his pension in large amounts.

It's been mentioned before, but

Bill Kenwright – Prick In The Conscience

Posts about Bill Kenwright written by The Norfolk Golfer

thesillibrityletters.wordpress.com

 

[Bungle]

 

[AndyC]

We all have opinions about actors,personally I don't think Johnny Depp can act at all. But its vary rare for anybody who is 'diabolical' to get any work at all, and Bill worked regularly on the stage and in TV, even in a long running musical in his early days. I think your opinion of him as an actor is coloured by your opinion of him as a football chairman,and does not come from any knowledge of acting skills.Incidentally, a few years ago Bill Kenwright Productions made a profit of £14 million...and that was just from movies. Educating Rita, to which he bought rights before it was ever produced, and Stepping Out, to which he owns stage rights, and not forgetting Blood Brothers which like Rita, is always in performance somewhere in the world, are all contributing to his pension in large amounts.

BK was somewhat fortunate to know Willy Russell and secure the rights to Blood Brothers and Educating Rita, those two alone made a fortune.
Blood Brothers is arguably one of the best stage musicals ever written, have seen it at least three times myself.

On the downside, BK runs his shows on the proverbial shoestring, milking every possible penny from his actors and crews. Actors who work for him often bemoan the lack of rehearsal time and that individual interpretation is stifled.

 

[Benedict]

Bill "i'll let anyone wipe their backsides on Everton if it makes them love me" Kenwright.

 

[summerisle]

Bill "i'll let anyone wipe their backsides on Everton if it makes them love me" Kenwright.

Take over the horse punchers.

Everton Chairman showing Mike Ashley up

Mike Ashley getting shown up by Everton Chairman, and fan, Bill Kenwright.

www.themag.co.uk

 

[Cameron Manning]

We all have opinions about actors,personally I don't think Johnny Depp can act at all. But its vary rare for anybody who is 'diabolical' to get any work at all, and Bill worked regularly on the stage and in TV, even in a long running musical in his early days. I think your opinion of him as an actor is coloured by your opinion of him as a football chairman,and does not come from any knowledge of acting skills.Incidentally, a few years ago Bill Kenwright Productions made a profit of £14 million...and that was just from movies. Educating Rita, to which he bought rights before it was ever produced, and Stepping Out, to which he owns stage rights, and not forgetting Blood Brothers which like Rita, is always in performance somewhere in the world, are all contributing to his pension in large amounts.

No Steve you are wrong, my opinion of Kenwright’s acting (sic) has absolutely nothing to do with him being Everton’s chairman, I watched him, embarrassing, sorry very embarrassing, in numerous tv shows, I wouldn’t waste any money to see him in a stage show. If he’s made more than the £30M ( at the very least) from his Everton shares from his theatrical work over the years he has never put a penny back into Everton FC than the money he initially bought his shares with. Loves us though doesn’t he?

 

[Steve Wigan]

No Steve you are wrong, my opinion of Kenwright’s acting (sic) has absolutely nothing to do with him being Everton’s chairman, I watched him, embarrassing, sorry very embarrassing, in numerous tv shows, I wouldn’t waste any money to see him in a stage show. If he’s made more than the £30M ( at the very least) from his Everton shares from his theatrical work over the years he has never put a penny back into Everton FC than the money he initially bought his shares with. Loves us though doesn’t he?

So its just your personal unqualified opinion. That's your entitlement...in fact every actor who ever gets on to a stage or in front of a camera is to some extent saying to the audience 'what do you think of me'

 

[Steve Wigan]

BK was somewhat fortunate to know Willy Russell and secure the rights to Blood Brothers and Educating Rita, those two alone made a fortune.
Blood Brothers is arguably one of the best stage musicals ever written, have seen it at least three times myself.

On the downside, BK runs his shows on the proverbial shoestring, milking every possible penny from his actors and crews. Actors who work for him often bemoan the lack of rehearsal time and that individual interpretation is stifled.

True...but at least they're working. The only way to put a show on in the provinces is with a tight budget .''on a shoestring'. Have you seen ticket prices lately? Try ringing, for example, the Plaza ,Stockport, and ask how much to hire the theatre for a night,and add on the in house sound package(compulsory),staffing,chaperones for any juveniles,licensing for the production, sets, programme printing, hire of in house lighting rig and operator,advertising, paying the cast, paying for a rehearsal venue, insurance, etc. etc. It ain't easy.

 

[Cameron Manning]

So its just your personal unqualified opinion. That's your entitlement...in fact every actor who ever gets on to a stage or in front of a camera is to some extent saying to the audience 'what do you think of me'

Steve you will have to explain to me “ unqualified opinion”, even paid critics only offer an opinion. Steve if you are saying Kenwright was a good actor, please recommend a good play or film I should see, save me wasting my money, I’ll give them a miss.

 

[Steve Wigan]

Steve you will have to explain to me “ unqualified opinion”, even paid critics only offer an opinion. Steve if you are saying Kenwright was a good actor, please recommend a good play or film I should see, save me wasting my money, I’ll give them a miss.

You're right,every opinion is unqualified, and your opinion is as valid as the next persons. The only measure really is that an actor continues to get work,and Bill worked a lot...as you say you watched him in numerous TV shows. If he were 'diabolical' he wouldn't have worked in 'numerous' shows. I'm surprised you watched so many surely you wouldn't watch if you saw Bills name in the cast list?

 

[AndyC]

True...but at least they're working. The only way to put a show on in the provinces is with a tight budget .''on a shoestring'. Have you seen ticket prices lately? Try ringing, for example, the Plaza ,Stockport, and ask how much to hire the theatre for a night,and add on the in house sound package(compulsory),staffing,chaperones for any juveniles,licensing for the production, sets, programme printing, hire of in house lighting rig and operator,advertising, paying the cast, paying for a rehearsal venue, insurance, etc. etc. It ain't easy.

Nobody is suggesting it's easy mate.

But taking a fabulous script and story - as with both Blood Brothers and Educating Rita - and not really encouraging or allowing any personal interpretation because 'it's a tried and tested formula' isn't exactly stimulating for the performers on stage is my point.

BK extracts every penny he can from 'tried and tested formulas' and from the artistic point of view or both actors and directors, that's rather limiting.

 

[Steve Wigan]

Nobody is suggesting it's easy mate.

But taking a fabulous script and story - as with both Blood Brothers and Educating Rita - and not really encouraging or allowing any personal interpretation because 'it's a tried and tested formula' isn't exactly stimulating for the performers on stage is my point.

BK extracts every penny he can from 'tried and tested formulas' and from the artistic point of view or both actors and directors, that's rather limiting.

Its a valid criticism....and its common for actors to complain about rehearsal time and not being able to put their own nuances in character,not just in Bill Kenwright productions. As you will know, no two stage performances are the same and actors once they're on stage can usually play differently every time, within the context of the play/show. The art of directing is to make sure that everyone on stage(and off) stays within certain disciplines. Apologies, mods, it we're getting away from Bill as a football chairman here.

 

[Groucho]

Listen, if you don’t want your fiver give it to me.

 

[AndyC]

Its a valid criticism....and its common for actors to complain about rehearsal time and not being able to put their own nuances in character,not just in Bill Kenwright productions. As you will know, no two stage performances are the same and actors once they're on stage can usually play differently every time, within the context of the play/show. The art of directing is to make sure that everyone on stage(and off) stays within certain disciplines. Apologies, mods, it we're getting away from Bill as a football chairman here.

The best producers encourage their directors and actors to be expressive within the confines of the script and story.

Somewhat disappointingly, BK has something of a reputation for repressing such expression, especially with wildly successful shows like Blood Brothers, and it must be soul destroying at times for the cast to have to be almost robotic in ones performances.

 

[Exeter_Gently]

Feel like am in Broadway here.