The Golden Voice the Musical

Darren Day Stars in The Golden Voice at the Arts Theatre 12 June 2013

The Golden Voice, a new British musical by singer-songwriter Nick Fogarty

In the show, which will be directed by Guy Retallack, fame hungry singer Mike Chariot betrays his best friend and abandons his childhood sweetheart to win the nationâ€™s favorite talent show “The Golden Voice,” but he quickly realizes he is merely a puppet for the record company and television executives. Too famous to return to his old life, he decides to disappear. After a brief media frenzy, the machine moves on and he is all but forgotten.

Almost 20 years later, a wiser Mike Chariot returns to make amends and help young singers and musicians achieve their dreams without having to enter television talent shows. However his noble quest will bring him back in contact with his embittered former best friend Jim Ryan, who now has the power to exact his revenge.

THE GOLDEN VOICE is based on the personal experiences of singer-songwriter Nick Fogarty, who has written the music, lyrics and book. The new musical will be directed by Guy Retallack, with choreography by Jordi Guitart, orchestrations and musical arrangements by Martin Koch and Nick Gilpin, musical direction by Tom Turner, set and costumes by James Turner, lighting by Richard Williamson and sound by Chris Full. Abbey Investments Limited will produce.

Darren Day (born 17 July 1968 in Colchester, Essex) is an English actor, singer and television presenter, well known for his West End theatre starring roles.

Career

Day auditioned for BBC’s talent show Opportunity Knocks in 1987 and appeared on the show in 1988, introduced by host Bob Monkhouse. He won several heats and came fourth in the final.

After five years with a career that spanned being a Butlins redcoat, doing stand-up comedy, and singing with bands, Day made his breakthrough as a singer in London’s West End theatre, starring in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, replacing the departing Phillip Schofield. He then starred in many West end shows, such as Grease’, Summer Holiday’ and Godspell’ and went on to develop a career as a television presenter, presenting programmes such as You Bet!, and Don’t Try This at Home! He appeared in the first series of the reality television show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.

In 1991, Day presented the Classic Nursery Rhymes video.

Day has appeared in many touring stage musicals, including Summer Holiday, Grease, The Rocky Horror Show and Great Expectations. In the pantomime season of 2005â€“06, Day appeared in the Derby Assembly Rooms production of Cinderella, where he played the part of Buttons. This is also were he first met his wife Stephanie, as she was appearing in the production.

Day worked in November 2006 on the Celebrity Scissorhands project for the BBC in aid of Children in Need. From there, he returned to pantomime for the 2006â€“07 season as ‘Jack’ in Jack and the Beanstalk at Billingham’s Forum Theatre.

In 2007, Day toured the UK with a new theatre show The Music of Manilow and More, and made a guest appearance in July on ITV’s police drama The Bill, playing a photographer who is the prime suspect in the death of a supermodel.

Autumn 2007 saw him take over from Mark Little in the UK tour of Defending the Caveman before returning to pantomime at the Lowry, Salford as King Rat in Dick Whittington co starring his wife and actress Stephanie Dooley, and Chesney Hawkes.

In 2009 he changed management and was cast in the musical, We Will Rock You, alongside Kevin Kennedy which toured the UK. In March 2010, Day took part in Celebrity Come Dine with Me on Channel 4, alongside Claire Sweeney, Kim Woodburn and Tom O’Connor. This episode was repeated in December 2010. From October 2010 to Jan 2011 Day played soap villain Danny Houston in the popular series Hollyoaks.

From April 2011 to July 2011, Day starred in the UK in the musical Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show, alongside co-star Brian Conley. In December 2011 Day starred as Captain Hook in the pantomime Peter Pan at Worthing Pavilion Theatre, breaking the theatre’s 2003 box-office record to become the best selling pantomime the theatre has ever had. Whilst working in Worthing, he became acquainted with the work of the Stone Pillow, a charity working with the homeless, and after making a personal appearance in support of charity, he agreed to become a patron in 2012. Day will reprise the role of Captain Hook in December 2012 at the Lighthouse Theatre, Kettering, in their pantomime Peter Pan.

In early 2012, Day took on the role of American author Paul Sheldon in a production of Misery in Dubai. The production was nominated locally for a Time Out Theatre Award. In Autumn 2012, Darren Day played HIV-positive gospel singer Gideon in the European premiere of the award-winning USA musical “The Last Session”, for which he was nominated for Best Actor in the Off West End Awards (“The Offies”). In Spring 2013, he began work on a new British Feature Film, playing a bereaved father of a teenage daughter, directed by Shona Auerbach. In May 2013 he began work on a new musical, The Golden Voice, which will premiere at The Arts Theatre in the West End, in June 2013 and will run till August 2013.

Life

Up to 2008, Day’s name had become almost synonymous with tabloid fame. While still single, he had many celebrity partners, had been linked in the tabloids to taking drugs and confirmed being treated for addiction to cocaine resulting in a colourful private life that at times overshadowed his extensive and successful performing career.

On 18 June 2008, while appearing in a production of Hello, Dolly! in Cardiff, Day was arrested for being over the drink drive limit On 27 August, Day was banned from driving after admitting to Cardiff Magistrates’ Court that he had been over the limit.

On 18 December 2009, while appearing in a production of We Will Rock You in Edinburgh, he was arrested for being over the drink drive limit after a crash. He was also charged with being in possession of an offensive weapon, a keyring Kubotan. On January 20, 2010 he admitted drink driving in Edinburgh Sheriff Court. On 7 April 2010 he was found guilty on the offensive weapons charge, for which he was admonished due to “particular facts and circumstances”. He was also sentenced for the Drink Driving offence and banned from driving for five years and fined Â£1,250.

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