• November 8, 2019

War hero musical has a new lead character

War hero musical has a new lead character

War hero musical has a new lead character 150 150 mhamer

The musical will be performed on Remembrance SundayThe musical by Jimmy Cricket about a war hero has a new lead character for Sunday’s show at Rochdale Town Hall.

Let’s hear it for the wee man will be performed in aid of the Mayor of Rochdale’s charity appeal.
It is about Northern Ireland’s only recipient of the Victoria Cross and tells the courageous story of submariner James Magennis.
US-born musician and singer Andrew J Boyer has replaced actor Nick Newbould in the lead role.
Andrew J Boyer will play war hero Jim Magennis in Jimmy Cricket's musical at Rochdale Town Hall on Remembrance SundayAndrew (pictured left) is a 24-year-old piano-vocalist from Dallas in Texas who just moved to Manchester.
He has been a performer for almost a decade now, and sings and plays piano from time to time on cruise ships.
Andrew tweeted: “It’s a bit of a detour from my usual piano-bar routine, but.. This Sunday at 4pm, I’ll be filling in for Nick Newbould, and playing the lead character in Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket’s musical/play: ‘Let’s Hear It For The Wee Man’. ????
“I’ll be sharing… ift.tt/34FRZWS!”
Jimmy posted on Twitter: “I would like to thank that fine singer and piano player from Texas Andrew J Boyer for stepping in at the 11th hour to play the part of Jim Magennis in my Remembrance day Concert at the Rochdale Town this coming Sunday.”
Faced grave danger

‘Let’s Hear It For The Wee Man’ – Musical Concert in aid of the Mayor’s Charity Appeal rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/62591/e via @RochdaleOnline

The musical tells the courageous story of submariner James Magennis who joined the Royal Navy aged 15. He won the UK’s highest military honour for his bravery onboard a midget sub that attacked the Japanese cruiser Takao on 31 July 1945.

His job was to attach six mines to the enemy vessel in the risky covert operation in Singapore Harbour.

Jimmy and @RochdaleMayor Coun Billy Sheerin having a good old yarn about the James Magennis play

However, he ran into difficulties and faced grave danger.

But he persisted with the mission before returning to the sub exhausted.

King George VI recognised his heroics by awarding him the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry.

Magennis continued his service until 1949 when he returned home with his wife Edna Skidmore and their four sons.

In 1952, he lost his job and was forced to sell his VC medal.

However, an anonymous benefactor later returned it to him on the condition he did not sell it again.

Blue plaque

Magennis spent the rest of his life in Yorkshire working as an electrician before dying of cancer in 1986 aged 66.

His heroics were commemorated in 2018 with a special blue plaque in his honour.

Belfast-born Jimmy has written both the words and the music for the play.

It also features actor Charles Lawson, actress and singer Sue Devaney and comedian Jimmy himself.

Tickets are available at Rochdale Town Hall from the reception or by contacting 01706 924773. Tickets cost £10.

Read more about the Mayor of Rochdale’s charity appeal here.

Jimmy and the mayor met up a while back to promote the play.

Rochdale Council tweeted: “Come here, come here!

“We were bowled over by the legendary Jimmy Cricket promoting his brilliant new concert, to be performed at Rochdale Town Hall on Sun 10 Nov, 4pm-5pm.

“And there’s more! Here’s Jimmy and@RochdaleMayor Coun Billy Sheerin having a good old yarn about the event.”

Find out where Jimmy is performing and his other forthcoming shows by viewing all his tour dates on this website.

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