Hard Day’s Night pays off for Esentepe fundraisers

“TRULY a night to remember.” This is how Charlie Bell summed up the production of his musical, the Beatlesbased A Hard Day’s Night, which raised funds for cancer charity.

After 13 years in the making, the 63-year-old who wrote, produced and starred in the musical was happy to see his dream become a reality at the Esentepe Theatre on Sunday.

The sell-out show was staged by the Abnormals group of expat entertainers in aid of the Help Those With Cancer Association (Tulips) and in memory of late Beatles member George Harrison.

“It was everything I expected it to be,” said Mr Bell, who has been a long-term visitor to Esentepe over the last 11 years with his wife Katy from their town of Hamilton in Scotland. He previously taught karate on the same stage for five years.

“It was amazing. There was a standing ovation. The crowd gave great feedback. I was very proud of the team,” he said.

Mr Bell initially penned the show in 2005 for British theatrical producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh — behind Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera and Cats — who was looking for a production to be staged in Inverness.

He said the UK production did not go ahead due to legal issues regarding the use of Beatles tracks, but after two years of trying to get it off the ground in North Cyprus, “six weeks ago everything fell into place”.

“The biggest bit is what we’ve raised. We are eternally grateful for the support. It was the most professional amateur performance and I am so proud of the team,” he said.

His fellow cast members were Paul Cobban, Kate Bell, Dave Lavender, Martin Ford, Susie Ford and Ibo Musa.

“They brought the house down,” said Mr Bell, adding that the production team had worked with no budget and minimal props. “It was a team effort.”

The show may be repeated next year, depending on demand.