Jon Ellison(1930-2023)
- Actor
Jon Ellison began his musical career at age nine as a boy soprano in
the Parish Church choir in Whitchurch. As a baritone soloist he later
won a prize at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, prior to
arriving at Technical College (where he studied building construction)
and joining the Army. In the summer of 1953 he auditioned for the
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in Birmingham, and was promptly accepted
into the chorus, beginning his D'Oyly Carte career on September 1,
1953. He remained in the Carte chorus until December 1956, when he and
his wife of one year, Joy Mornay, left the Company to work in Glasgow
pantomime. They subsequently worked in television, eventually returning
to London where he appeared in the Howard and Wyndham pantomimes at the
London Palladium. In April 1958, Jon Ellison rejoined the D'Oyly Carte
Opera Company chorus, leaving in July 1966. He returned, however, in
1968, and continued playing small roles until 'George Cook' left in 1969,
when he was promoted to some of the larger, minor roles. He left the
D'Oyly Carte for the final time in 1979. His roles with the D'Oyly
Carte Opera Company included Cox in "Cox And Box", The Foreman, Judge
and Usher in "Trial by Jury", The Notary in "The Sorcerer", both Bill
and Bob in "HMS Pinafore" (he recorded Bill for Decca), Samuel in "The
Pirates of Penzance", Bunthorne's Solicitor and Major Murgatroyd in
"Patience", Scynthius in "Princess Ida", Go-To in "The Mikado", Old
Adam Goodheart in "Ruddigore", both the 1st and 2nd Citizens in "The
Yeomen of the Guard", Antonio and Annibale in "The Gondoliers", Tarara
in "Utopia Limited" (also recorded for Decca), and Ben Hashbaz in "The
Grand Duke" (also recorded for Decca). He also understudied many
principal roles. His subsequent appearances include those with "Gilbert
& Sullivan a la Carte" (including Wilfred Shadbolt in "The Yeomen of
the Guard" at the Barbican) and various G&S concerts, "The Best of
Broadway", "Evita", "Hello Dolly" (with Dora Bryan) at London's Dominion
Theatre, and appearances in Gawsworth Hall's open air theatrical
productions of "H.M.S. Pinafore" (as Bill Bobstay, 1992) and
"Ruddigore" (as Old Adam, 1995). Jon has also run a violet farm with
his wife since leaving the D'Oyly Carte, and has also appeared in some
of the popular "Together Again" concerts. His many fans hope that one
day he will publish his autobiography.