NEVER has the saying 'the show must go on' had more poignancy for Wordsley thespians than when they discovered their director had died just hours before their latest play was due to open.
Amateur dramatics stalwart Brian Dickinson passed away at the age of 75 on October 5 - the day Wordsley Amateur Dramatic Society's Curtain up on Murder was due to open at Kingswinford Methodist Church.
Members of the society have been left devastated at his unexpected death and Peter Goldsmith, the group's spokesman, said: "It's a very sad time for WADS."
He said Brian had chosen, cast and directed the whodunnit play, about a seaside theatre group hit by a murder during rehearsals, however a few weeks ago he told members he was too ill to carry on and reportedly underwent surgery to remove a tumour from his bowel, but died after developing septicaemia.
The long-serving member of Wordsley Amateur Dramatic Society had been at the heart of the award-winning group for 23 years, together with his wife Liz.
He had played roles galore over the years - able to turn his hand to both serious drama and comedy, often leaving the audience in stitches at the latter.
David Southall, chairman of WADS, said: "It didn’t take us long to realise what a force of nature he actually was.
"A superb actor, he gave brilliant performances in everything he did; but it was in comedy and farce that he most excelled. His sense of timing, his sense of humour and his pleasure in making people laugh filled every part he played.
"We will remember Brian for many outstanding performances - Dad in Caught in the Net, Colonel Wagstaff in Dry Rot and one of my personal favourites - Cooper in A Month of Sundays.
"He was a source of great joy, an inspiration to anyone who knew him, and his loss will be felt by us all, for now and for many years to come."
Yorkshire-born Brian (pictured below - right), who lived in Kingswinford, had also been a long-standing member of Brierley Hill Methodist Church Dramatic Society which he joined in 1970 - with wife Liz - remaining until it folded in 2002.
In more recent years he had made a name for himself as a TV and movie extra - appearing in a host of popular programmes and various feature films.
His daughter Miranda Dickinson, the best-selling romantic novelist, said "He was so proud to be in films like The Other Boleyn Girl, The Damned United and Nativity 3 - where he actually had to write his own script as the crazy New York vicar in the big finale - and TV shows like Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Doctors, Casualty, Life On Mars, The Village and, most recently, Raised By Wolves and Father Brown.
"That's actually something really special that his film and TV extra work has left us - we can still watch him doing what he did best in the great list of appearances he amassed."
Miranda, whose new book Searching for a Silver Lining is out next week, added: "Dad was so excited about my new book coming out and I spent hours talking to him about being a teenager in the 1950s as I was writing it and so many of his memories and favourite songs now form part of the book."
She said her father's death had been a "massive shock" and she added: "We're heartbroken, but relieved he isn't battling pain anymore."
As well as his wife of 49 years and daughter Miranda, Brian leaves another daughter Bev and three grandchildren - Flo, aged two, Freya, aged seven, and Anya, aged four.
His funeral will be held at Brierley Hill Methodist Church, Bank Street, at 2.30pm on November 3.
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