A Tribute To Bev Jones, A Song and Dance Spectacular, plays the Joseph Rowntree Theatre at the double

"So it would be best to ring the box office or book online immediately for the 2.30pm and 7.30pm shows," advises Bev's wife, Lesley.

Audience members will come from as far afield as Darlington, Harrogate, Lincoln and Ripon for this weekend's charity performances by a cast equally drawn from all over Yorkshire.

The company will include newcomers to the stage whose voices shone out at the auditions for next year's premiere of Bev's musical The Penny Millionaire.

Among those taking part in the tribute to the York chorister, musical director and composer will be three performers aged eight to 11, Bailey Smith, Freya Green and Alexis Jagger, who have been cast as artist Paul Gauguin's children in the January show at the JoRo.

"All have now been subjected to Bev's arrangements, his harmonies, his bright dance routines, his love of melodies and big ballads, and of course sequins," says Lesley. "No Bev Jones spectacular would be complete without sequins, glitter balls, flame boxes and star-cloths.

"Tomorrow's shows are unashamedly an opportunity to highlight just a few of the numbers from Penny Millionaire, though out of context of course, ahead of the main production we will stage in 2016."

What else will be included, Lesley? "Well, we delved into Bev's music library and all agreed on the favourites from the last 15 years, but with new routines throughout, covering Les Miserables, Elvis, The Pirates Of Penzance and The Sound Of Music," she says. "Due to Bev' 40-year history with York Light Opera, the company his parents co-founded in the 1950s, I invited them to provide a guest appearance, and they too will be singing Bev's arrangements in three concert-style numbers.

Dancing on the street to herald A Tribute To Bev Jones. Picture: Wendy Binns

"We hope the man himself, Bev, will be our special guest of honour at the matinee, accompanied by his nursing staff from Knaresborough, health permitting, and we hope to brighten what is the dark private world he now lives in on a daily basis.

"We'll be offering all the profits from these charity shows to the charities that deal with Bev's many conditions, such is the complex nature of his health."

Among those who have backed A Tribute To Bev Jones are York Theatre Royal pantomime dame Berwick Kaler, a friend of many years' standing, who attended the official photo shoot. "He wanted to send his love to Bev, a 'genius of a man' as he described him," says Lesley.

Tickets are on sale at £10 and £8 for the tribute shows and £12 to £15 for Penny Millionaire's January run on 01904 623568 or at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

NEWSFLASH

DANCER Adele Barlow, Lesley Jones's daughter and Bev's stepdaughter, will defy a broken hand to perform tomorrow.

"Adele broke her hand this week, so the hospital has given her a pretty pink cast - though a lot of her costumes are red - but The Show Must Go On!" says Lesley.