Not so Misérables! Joy as £18,000 raised at Bridgnorth charity concert
More than £18,000 was raised when the cast of hit West End show Les Misérables descended on Bridgnorth for a one-off charity gig.
In November, the West End & Bridgnorth Sings for Rupert saw cast members and directors team up with people in the town for a singing workshop gala performance of the show’s music.
Now, organisers have added up the takings from the night and revealed a total of £18,447.64 was raised.
It was originally thought that £17,000 was made, but thanks to a generous gesture from director Alfonso Casado Trigo – plus donations on the night from the Mayor of Bridgnorth Ron Whittle and sponsors Tile Choice and Bridgnorth Aluminium – the amount is considerably higher.
The event was held at St Leonard’s Church.
The money will support the Rupert’s Revenge charity – which is helping six-year-old Bridgnorth boy Rupert Beckett, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when he was just two and a half years old.
Alfonso Trigo, whose main credits include Les Misérables, Miss Saigon and Phantom of the Opera, was joined by soloists star Jeremy Secomb and wife Karen Evans as well as Erica Ann Deakin who has had major roles in Mamma Mia, Billy Elliot and Oliver.
There were 750 people who turned out in total – 185 of whom were part of the choir, some musicians and the rest audience members, which even featured Alfonso Casado’s brother and the Mayor of Seville Juan Espadas Cejas.
Organiser, Sally Themans, said Mr Secomb had said singing in St Leonard’s Church was better than the Royal Albert Hall.
A post on the Bridgnorth Sings for Rupert Facebook page said: “Thank you so much to everyone who helped, sang, came along, supported this event. It was a magical evening for Bridgnorth.
“People are still saying nice things about it and on top of it all – we are now able to give this much needed cheque to Rupert’s Revenge. Happy Christmas all.”
Other soloists who performed on the night included Lucy Key who starred as Maria in West Side Story and in The Marriage Of Figaro, Rob Houchen who was Marius in Les Misérables and Christopher Key, Jean Valjean in Les Misérables – now associate director of Les Mis, Miss Saigon and School of Rock.
