The Allegro Theatre Company was shocked and saddened at the recent passing of Andy Willett, one of the company’s most experienced and talented members.

As a young Yarrawonga schoolboy, Andy first appeared on the Allegro stage in the 1985 production of Only an Orphan Girl, and then the following year in the pantomime Dick Whittington. His connection with Allegro was not renewed after that until he played four roles (a Jewish official, a commando, a jailer and a “blood and thunder” prophet) in the 2004 production of Life of Brian.

The Bishop of Bath and Wells followed in BlackAdder II, then Andy directed his first show for Allegro, Black Rock, in 2006. After that came the American tourist, Mr Hamilton, in Fawlty Towers, and the brightly-dressed narrator in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Andy took to both singing and dancing as Lycus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, desperately hoping “that I can hold a tune” and enjoying the opportunity to try a few dance steps on stage.

His biggest gamble came when he did what nobody from Allegro had tried before him – he offered to direct a Shakespearean play, and the 2008 success of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was due very much to Andy’s enthusiasm and commitment.

Backstage work was not beneath Andy, and Bullshot Crummond saw him manoeuvring a model plane safely over the audience at the beginning of every performance. Back to singing and dancing in last year’s Twisted Mikado, followed by a return to directing where he assisted Steve Thornycroft with Rumours. Then backstage again this year, where he worked behind the scenes in The Witches.

Andy successfully auditioned for a major role in Allegro’s next production, BlackAdder IV, and was also going to assist Miguel de Oliveira with the directing.

Andy Willett would say that Allegro gave him many opportunities and we can certainly agree that he took full advantage of whatever was offered to him, and that the company has been improved immeasurably by his involvement. As he said so often to so many of us, we now say to him – “Thanks mate!”