And that was exactly what Bill Jayet experienced when he was awarded life membership during a special presentation on the official opening night on October 20.

The moment couldn’t have been more fitting in every way, with Bill reprising his role as Fagin from the musical Oliver for the October concerts – a character he has performed four times in his theatrical career, in 1984, 2000, 2009 and 2018.

“Honestly, I was absolutely gobsmacked,” he said.

“I found it very difficult to even talk… It was a huge honour.

“It was certainly my goosebump moment.”

Before an audience that included Mayor Ken Keith OAM, State Member for Orange Phil Donato, M&D stalwarts, wife Lindy Farrant and daughter Hannah, the 71-year-old accepted the life membership from director and president Lyn Townsend, who just so happened to have played one of Fagin’s gang in the 1984 production.

“Now Lyn is a grandmother,” Bill laughed.

Bill has been on stage on and off for 54 years, first falling in love with theatre as a child when watching his mother Audrey perform as Aunt Ella in Oklahoma with the Forbes Amateur Theatre.

“You could say it lit the flame for me,” he said.

“I was 19 when I did my first show Annie Get Your Gun with the Forbes M&D Society.

“Ironically, my first major role in Parkes was as Ali Hackim in the Cheryl Brown directed production of Oklahoma in 1981.”

Despite the complex character that is Fagin, it might surprise many when Bill says his most challenging role was that of the twins in the Vandenberg Players production of The Venetian Twins.

He had the tough challenge of playing both characters – with one twin very debonair, the other very gawky.

“But Fagin is my favourite,” Bill said.

“In fact I believe him to be the best male role in musical theatre.

“I love doing the ugly parts as you can really get your teeth into them.

“Besides I’m no matinée idol in the looks department,” he laughed.

Fagin has definitely been Bill’s most successful role, winning him the Best Actor in a Musical Canberra Area Theatre (CAT) Award for his performance in the 2009 production – 25 years after playing the role for the first time.

“I thought I had no chance [at the CAT Awards], because they asked me to perform on the night,” he said.

“I didn’t believe it, I had to rush out in my Fagin costume to give my acceptance speech.

“The entire costume, including the beard and moustache, was exactly what I wore in the 1984 production and has stayed with me for every performance since, including the latest concert series.

“The 1984 production of Oliver was directed by Patrick Garvey and the theatre at the time sat only 99 people, which shows how our Little Theatre has evolved over the years.

“I remember Patrick with the help of David Ward, constructed the whole set out of hundreds of polystyrene vegetable boxes that were so popular at the time – Today I’m certain it wouldn’t be allowed because of fire risk.

“From memory we did 11 performances and the tickets sold out virtually in half a day.”

Bill said he’s worked with some amazing people over the years.

“Hats off to Neil [Westcott] and Lyn because they have done a gigantic job in progressing the Society to what it is today,” he said.

“Their devotion to young people, giving them the opportunity to perform and giving them that cultural/theatrical introduction to the arts has to be admired.”

“And of course the other directors – Greg Ballantyne, Brian Schmalkuche, Alan Wright, Lorna Helby and Cheryl Brown.”

For those who know Bill well, know he battles his nerves every time he steps on stage.

“I’m a nervous wreck, people don’t believe it. It’s not uncommon for me to be dry reaching back stage,” he said.

“But truly it’s just the love of theatre and getting your teeth into different characters, it gets the adrenaline going.

“And it’s been terrific to work with so many kids in our Society and seeing them grow up and move on over the years.

“Amateur theatre is a great way to boost confidence in the young – something that stays with them for life. And might I add, most perform without a nerve in their body, which makes me very envious.”

Former Parkes M&D president Neil Westcott said Bill was long overdue for the honour of life membership and couldn’t be more deserving.

He recalled his first years he worked with Bill, in particular the production Carousel in the mid 80s, when Neil was leading man and Bill co-directed with Alan Wright.

“I can remember the power he had on stage and the footprints he left behind,” Neil said.

“He was of the highest calibre and he was great fun.

“His nervous energy is almost as legendary as his performance on stage… It’s good to see someone like Bill going through the nerves and walk out and give a professional performance.

“Life membership is the acknowledgement of a member who goes over and above in their commitment to the Society.”

And it’s one that is bestowed upon a few, with an average of two or three handed out per decade.

“We usually hand out the life membership at our annual general meeting, but given that we had just refurbished the theatre and with the Goosebumps show, we decided to make it a bit extra special for Bill,” Neil said.

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