It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our dear friend and long-standing member, John Furse.
His first appearance with The Monkton Players came in 1983, playing The Bishop of Lax in Pools Paradise. The programme accidentally listed him as “John Forse”- perhaps fitting in hindsight, because John would become one of the driving forces behind the group for the next four decades.
John appeared in numerous productions, bringing warmth, humour and reliability to every role he played. Blessed with a natural talent for comedy, he brought each character vividly to life. That familiar cheeky twinkle in his eye was often enough to test the resolve of his fellow cast members, who did their best not to corpse whenever they shared the stage with him.
His love of theatre extended beyond acting. John became one of the few members to write original plays for The Monkton Players, with The Old Rust Bucket receiving its world premiere in 1989, followed later by A Pretty Pickle and I Know What That Is. His plays further demonstrated his keen eye for comedy, creating moments that the group still talk and laugh about to this day – “Cashier number one please”.
John’s final appearance on stage came in 2023 in Don’t Get Your Vicars in a Twist. Although he decided to step away from acting after that production, he certainly didn’t step away from the group. He remained a familiar and valued face at every performance, happily selling raffle tickets, chatting with audiences and continuing to support the group he loved.
Away from the stage, many of us will remember another of John’s traditions – his Tuesday evening pint at The Merry Monk. More often than not, he was the first to arrive, pint in hand, ready to put the world to rights. In recent years, he would even slip away from rehearsals a little early to make sure he got there in plenty of time. The conversation would inevitably turn to the latest production, reliving the laughs, dissecting the on-stage mishaps and stage malfunctions, and enjoying the company of good friends. It was a simple tradition that John cherished, and one that so many of us were lucky enough to share.
John wasn’t simply a cast member. He was part of the fabric of The Monkton Players for over forty years. He saw generations of members come and go, welcomed countless newcomers and helped shape the friendly, supportive group we know today.
He will be greatly missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
Our thoughts are with John’s family and friends at this difficult time.
Thank you, John, for forty-three years of friendship, laughter, creativity and unwavering support. Your place in the story of The Monkton Players will never be forgotten.
Check out our post on Facebook to see photos of John and his work: