David Essex in Manchester

David Essex is an English singer, songwriter and actor, born in 1947 and known for pop and glam-rock songs including “Rock On,” “Gonna Make You a Star,” “Hold Me Close” and “A Winter’s Tale.” His screen work includes the films That’ll Be the Day and Stardust. In 1971, he played Jesus in the first London production of Godspell, which opened at the Roundhouse before transferring to Wyndham’s Theatre. He later starred as Fletcher Christian in Mutiny! at the Piccadilly Theatre, and took the lead role of Levi Lee in All the Fun of the Fair, a musical built around his songs that toured the UK before opening at the Garrick Theatre in 2010.