Kerri-Anne Kennerley to undergo surgery after Pippin trapeze fall

Beloved entertainer Kerri-Anne Kennerley says she is looking forward to “getting back to normal” on the eve of surgery on her collar bone which she broke in a trapeze fall during live stage musical, Pippin last month.

Kerri-Anne Kennerley says she is looking forward to “getting back to normal” on the eve of undergoing surgery on her broken collar bone.

The 67-year-old entertainment veteran has been recovering at home after falling several metres from a trapeze in live stage musical, Pippin.

Surgery is scheduled for tomorrow.

“I am looking forward to getting back to normal,” Kennerley told Confidential.

Kennerley made the comment as she made her first public appearance since the accident, attending an intimate dinner at Bedouin restaurant in Double Bay to celebrate the 16th anniversary of events, PR and media industry bible, Social Diary, on Tuesday night.

It has been two weeks since the accident and at the weekend met with her Pippin castmates.

Kerri-Anne Kennerley attends the Social Diary 16th Birthday Dinner at Bedouin in Double Bay.

Wearing her left arm in a sling, Kennerley appeared fit and well as she posed for a happy snap she later posted to social media.

“It was so nice to see my @pippinaustralia family,” Kennerley wrote on Instagram. “They have been so supportive and I miss performing with them and being apart of the show. Thank you for everyone’s well wishes I am truly blessed to have the best fans and friends in the world.”

Kennerley’s main act in the production saw her swinging from a trapeze as she belted out showstopper No Time At All at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre.

Audible gasps from the audience were hard in extraordinary video footage of the accident taken by an audience member.

Remarkably, Kennerley finished the song before being rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital.

At the time, she said: “What happened is just a random misstep in the trapeze and circus world. I’ve always felt safe in their hands but accidents just happen. I was trained well and loved getting stronger and the routine smoother. I’m devastated that I can’t finish the run. It was just so much fun. I broke my collarbone quite severely and have a slight chip of my ankle bone. I will know within a week if I need surgery.

Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Ainsley Melham in Pippin. Lyric Theatre, Sydney, 2020. Picture: Brian Geach

“But I’m hoping my injury will heal in the natural course of time but for now I have to bow out. I will miss my Pippin family.”

Pippin opened at the beginning of December with Kennerley playing the role of Grandma Berthe in the Australian rendition of the show, which was one of the first to debut since the coronavirus pandemic brought stage productions to a grinding halt.

Angelique Cassimatis has replaced Kennerley for the remainder of the season.

Kerri-Anne Kennerley shoulder x-ray.

Prior to the production launch, Kennerley spoke about the physical challenges she faced while performing the role.

Kennerley’s late husband, John, was paralysed after injuring his neck in a fall in Coffs Harbour in 2016 and died three years later.

“My John would have wanted me to do this,” she said. “He pushed me in to shows and stuff so very often, especially when I hesitated to do it. I truly believe he is behind me agreeing to do this.”

She continued: “I am doing it because it is a challenge for me at my age. I want to be the fittest and best I can be because there is only one way and it is down the other side. It is good for me and will give me discipline. It will wake me up and singing is the most wonderful passionate soulful feeling.”