West End producer brings toe tapping tunes to Derbyshire theatre for one night only

One of the UK’s leading theatre producers is gearing up for his Derby debut next month.

For one night only, musical fans can enjoy the creativity of West End producer Mark Robert Petty.

Repton School theatre will host A Musical Theatre Spectacular on Friday, June 14, 2024.

The evening promises to be entertaining and will showcase music from a wide range of musical shows spanning decades.

They include pieces from Fame, Jersey Boys, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Greatest Showman, Little Shop Of Horrors, La Cage Aux Folles, Love Never Dies, The Phantom Of The Opera, Cabaret, My Fair Lady, Mamma Mia!, Wicked, Waitress, Les Misérables and Rent.

The show and fundraiser is a collaboration between Repton School, Embark Federation, YMCA Derbyshire and The Lewis Sewell Memorial Trust.

Money raised will go towards The Lewis Sewell Memorial Trust, a charity established to honour the final wishes of Lewis James Sewell who wanted to create a legacy for young aspiring actors and performers.

The concert’s producer, Mark Robert Petty has been producing the successful concert series The Crazy Coqs Presents at Brasserie Zedel and The Crazy Coqs for the last six years.

He is also one half of the writing team of Anderson & Petty, alongside native New Yorker Barry Anderson.

Mark said: “I was incredibly humbled to be asked to produce last year’s concert at the Actor’s Church, Covent Garden, on behalf of the Sewell family to honour the life of their incredible son Lewis.

“I was so moved by his story, and the fact that in his final days his wish was for a trust to be created to enable others to train in the arts.

“The evening will be a celebration of musical theatre, which he loved, and will raise money for others to follow in his footsteps.”

Here is everything you need to know about A Musical Theatre Spectacular 2024

Date: Friday, June 14, 2024

Time: 7.30pm - 10pm

Tickets: £35.00 per person. To book tickets click here.

Address: Repton 400 Hall Theatre, Repton School, Willington Road, Repton, DE65 6FH.

If you’re unable to attend, but would like to get involved, you can support by donating raffle prizes, or donating directly to the Lewis Sewell Memorial Trust.

Matthew Crawford, Trust leader from Embark Federation was looking forward to the show and fundraiser.

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He said: "We are really excited at Embark to support what is going to be a spectacular evening in memory of a very special young man.

“It is wonderful to have such a high calibre of West End performers in Derbyshire and to be able to host at Repton 400 Hall Theatre, which is such a stunning venue.”

Anna Parish, Deputy Head at Repton School voiced her enthusiasm about the ‘important occasion’ that will see students take the stage for what is set to be a summer showstopper.

She said: “Repton School is proud to be able to support the Lewis Sewell Memorial Trust by hosting what is sure to be an amazing fundraising event.

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“Our pupils in the choir are very much looking forward to honouring Lewis’ memory by performing alongside Embark.

“It is a privilege to be able to facilitate such an important occasion, particularly as the Trusts’ values of courage, positivity and resilience align so closely to those of Repton School.”