Reunion for show in memory of former member

A TROUPE of Bristol performers is reuniting for a one-off show in memory of one of its former members.

Lee Ormsby, pictured – who has returned to his home city as part of the cast of the UK tour of Phantom of the Opera – decided to get the Musicmakers back together for a reunion, having formed the company when he was 19.

They will be joined by fellow cast members from the production of Phantom running at Bristol Hippodrome and young performers from theatre schools run by original Musicmakers members.

The show at Mr Ormsby's former school, St Bede's, will be in memory of the company's original lighting designer, James Clifford, who died suddenly from a heart attack last year aged 36. Proceeds from the night will go towards the British Heart Foundation.

The Musicmakers was formed from the cream of Bristol's youth performers in the early 90s and put on shows featuring songs from the musicals to raise money for charity.

Mr Ormsby, 39, who was born in Yate and grew up in Kingsweston, said that members of the company drifted apart when they left for university and drama school but got back in touch in recent years through social networking site Facebook.

The fundraising Musicmakers show will feature songs from more traditional shows such as West Side Story as well as more recent productions such as Wicked.

Among the people who will be performing on Sunday will be a former Musicmakers member who now lives in China, another who now lives in Australia and youngsters from Ivy Arts and the Jamie Allen School of Performing Arts (Jaspa) along with friends from West End shows.

Mr Ormsby said: "It has been brilliant, absolutely incredible.

"People are now married with families and some gave up performing a long time ago. Some didn't think they could do it but within ten minutes it was like they had never been away."

There are still some tickets available for the 7.30pm show on Sunday but people are advised to call to check availability on 0117 377 2200.