Bill Kenwright
by Educate Magazine September 18, 2014 · Latest Features
Bill Kenwright – Theatre impresario and Everton Football Club chairman
Bill Kenwright is one of the UK’s most successful theatre producers, best known for the long-running West End hit Blood Brothers and the record breaking tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
As a young man he became an actor. His early successes included a role in Coronation Street, as Gordon Clegg who was introduced in April 1968. Kenwright left the show after a year to pursue his producing career in March 1969.
Kenwright is the current chairman of Everton Football Club, whom he used to watch as a boy at Goodison Park. He has been on the Everton board since 1989.
He received an Honorary Fellowship from Liverpool’s John Moores University and is an Honorary Professor of Thames Valley University in London.
In 2000, Kenwright was awarded the CBE for his services to film and theatre.
He was also awarded an Honorary degree of Doctor of Letters from Nottingham Trent University in recognition of his outstanding contribution and commitment to British theatre.
My schools:
I attended Booker Avenue County Primary School and Liverpool Institute High School for Boys, an all-boys grammar school.
My favourite teacher:
That would be Alan Durband, he was a wonderful teacher.
Favourite subject at school:
I would have to say, without a doubt it was English Literature. I am a lover of the English word.
Were you streetwise or a bit of a geek?
I was definitely streetwise.
My favourite childhood band/singer:
Elvis! It goes without saying as I play his music every chance I get on my radio show, he has always been a favourite of mine.
My favourite extra-curricular activity:
My two loves, Goodison Park home of Everton Football Club and The Cavern home of the Beatles.
Do you remember your first school crush?
It was an all boys grammar school, enough said!
My favourite book:
Sons and Lovers by D H Lawrence, a true classic which I never tire
of reading
School dinners:
All I can say we used to sneak out to Lewis’self service of a lunch time.
My ambitions at school:
I always wanted to be Everton football player Dave Hickson or actor Alan Ladd in ‘Shane’
