After a lifetime in showbiz, 91-year-old Gordon Bess is showing no signs of exiting stage right just yet.
The entertainment agent and theatre promoter celebrated another birthday earlier this month but is still busy booking musical shows in theatres and arts centres all over the West Country.
His latest offering, an evening with the New Jersey Boys at Woodbury Village Hall on March 7, will raise money for Royal Devon Hospital Charity’s Super Theatre Appeal. It will be one of countless concerts that Gordon has promoted during a career that first captured his eye as a teenager.
Born and raised in Sidmouth in 1935, it was the bright lights of the town’s Manor Pavilion Theatre that drew him into the world of art and live entertainment. But despite treading the boards himself as a young man, it was the creativity behind the curtain that really interested him.
“My older cousin was a film and theatre director and his close friend was film actor Donald Sinden,” said Gordon.
“Donald reminded me that the unemployment is high in the acting profession and his influence led to my growing interest and enthusiasm in the arts, especially in writing and producing for theatre.”
While on National Service at Topsham Barracks, Gordon wrote and produced two variety shows, discovering considerable talent from his fellow servicemen.
During a 30-year sojourn as a marketing and sales manager for Unilever, he continued his involvement with amateur dramatic companies and also wrote, produced and directed charity revues and musical plays at the Northcott Theatre for Save the Children.
Aged 50, Gordon left the food industry to focus on what he loved best. Starting GB Promotions in 1985 with late wife Diana, he became a self-employed entertainment agent and theatre promoter.
“At that time, I also became the manager of AJ’s Big Band, a 17-piece band that is still performing swing and jazz classics after 43 years. In the 1980s, the band was chosen to play the role of the Glenn Miller Orchestra in a premier production at the Northcott.
Bookings followed at large and small venues from Penzance to Bristol and including at Exeter’s Northcott and Great Hall. Wife Diana, who died 2022, served as Mayor of Exeter from 1989 to 1990 and alongside his wife’s career in local politics, Gordon formed an association with Exeter Rotary Club and continued to support good causes through charity shows staged at the Northcott.
He started supporting the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in 2010 after donating to the Bramble Children’s Ward through the Rotary club. And after having heart surgery himself and sitting in a chair donated to the hospital, he decided to start raising money for the NHS himself.
It’s an association that continues today through Gordon’s promotion of tribute acts such as the New Jersey Boys, the Vox Beatles and Abba cover band Take a Chance on Us.
“It is a pleasure and very rewarding, whenever practical, to support a local charity such as Royal Devon Hospitals Charity,” said Gordon.
“Being able to bring artistes, audiences and the hospital charity together is a gesture of appreciation to those NHS staff who continue to care for us all.”
Gordon said he felt very fortunate to still be delighting audiences and raising thousands of pounds for charity.
In the theatre, you see the best of people.
– Gordon Bess
“They might have had a tough day at work or had difficulties parking the car outside but when they walk into the theatre they leave all their troubles at the door and they lose themselves in music, drama and comedy for a couple of hours.
“It’s a lovely thing to be in an environment where people come to be entertained and I think the thrill of putting on shows keeps me going. That and the odd glass of Merlot.”
Debbie Allen, Royal Devon Hospitals Charity Community Fundraiser, said Gordon’s passion for the theatre and fundraising continued to shine brightly despite his age.
“He’s a real inspiration to us all and it’s simply brilliant to see him supporting our local NHS while bringing so much joy to so many people through the shows he promotes,” said Debbie.
Tickets for the New Jersey Boys benefit show at Woodbury Village Hall on Saturday, March 7 are £23.85 (including the booking fee) and are available here.
