This Father’s Day, a Manxman is honouring a special father with a theatre show to raise awareness of a rare brain disorder.

The Musicals in Concert will take place on Sunday, June 17, to help tackle Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a neurological condition caused by the premature loss of nerve cells in certain parts of the brain, so rare that it is frequently misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s, stroke or MSA.

Around 4,000 people in the UK suffer from the condition, for which there is currently no cure.

The show, which will be hosted by television and stage actor Robert Daws, well known for his performances in The Royal and Poldark, has been put together by former Blood Brothers star Stephen Palfreman, who is from Douglas, after his father-in-law Norman was diagnosed with the condition.

Among other stage and TV roles, Stephen played Blood Brother Mickey for many years.

The role led him to meet his wife of more than 10 years, Louise, who played his on-stage wife Linda in the show produced by Bill Kenwright.

Now, Olivier-nominated stars of the West End and TV favourites, such as EastEnders, have donated their time and talent to join Stephen on stage at Theatre Royal, Windsor, where Kenwright is executive producer, for the event in Norman’s honour. Louise, who’s pregnant with the couple’s second child, will join her family in the stalls for the evening, which will include special prize giveaways to help raise much needed funds for the PSP Association.

Stephen said: ’As it will be Father’s Day, we’re asking for people to get in touch to let us know what makes their dad so special, to be in with a chance at having their Dad surprised live on stage, as well as winning one of the fantastic prizes we’ve had donated.

’It’s a great opportunity to show how much you really care and I’m looking forward to making someone’s night.’

Also appearing in the show, which will feature numbers from some of the world’s favourite musicals, will be Neil McDermott, who played Ryan Malloy in EastEnders before going on to tread the boards in Shrek and The Sound of Music,

The Royal’s Amy Robbins, Matt Rawle of Evita and Zorro fame, original star of We Will Rock You and Mamma Mia!, Mazz Murray, and cast members from worldwide stage hits including Les Miserables, Wicked and Jesus Christ Superstar.

The stars will also be joined by the young talent from Mishmak Youth Theatre and The Guildford Theatre School.

The show, which it is hoped will raise money to fund both research and treatment for PSP, is the latest in a series of fundraisers undertaken by Norman’s family and friends following a three-year wit for diagnosis.