Darren Day Headlines THE GOLDEN VOICE From 19 June

THE GOLDEN VOICE, a new British musical by singer-songwriter Nick Fogarty, will star Darren Day as Mike Chariot when it premieres at the Arts Theatre from Wednesday 19 June, previewing from 12 June, for a strictly limited season until Saturday 31 August.

Darren Day's first major theatre role was as Joseph in the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium. Since then, other West End credits include Grease, Summer Holiday and Godspell. With regards to starring in THE GOLDEN VOICE, Darren said, "I'm very happy to be heading the cast in this brand new musical. It's always exciting to be the first to work on a new script, and from the moment I listened to the songs, I wanted to be part of this show. It has such a rich and vibrant score and, alongside the talented team we've assembled, I can't wait to bring The Golden Voice to the Arts Theatre."

Darren Day was drawn to THE GOLDEN VOICE because of the amount of similarities there are between his story and that of the musical's leading character, Mike Chariot, who wins the nation's favourite TV talent show. Darren feels he can bring something very authentic to the role, as he began his own showbusiness career by appearing on the BBC talent show Opportunity Knocks in 1988.

In THE GOLDEN VOICE, singer Mike Chariot betrays his best friend and abandons his childhood sweetheart to win the television talent show, but he quickly realises he is merely a puppet for the record company and television executives and decides to disappear. Almost 20 years on, a wiser Mike Chariot is back 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 Nick Fogarty, who has written the music, lyrics and book. He signed his first record deal with his band Academy to RCA London, when he was aged 21. Four singles were released from the band's eponymous album. Nick left the band four years later to live and work in Los Angeles for 18 months, before moving to Germany in 1989 and signing with Warner Bros. Nick walked away from a lucrative record contract in 1991 to concentrate on writing and producing for some of the biggest selling German artists, before returning to the UK and devoting more of his time to being a vocal coach for musical theatre actors.

THE GOLDEN VOICE 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.

THE GOLDEN VOICE will be produced in London by Abbey Investments Limited.

LISTINGS INFORMATION
THE GOLDEN VOICE
Arts Theatre
6-7 Great Newport St
London WC2H 7JB

Performances: Monday-Saturday 7.30pm*; Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm
*Wednesday 19 June at 7.00pm

Tickets: Mon-Thurs: £20, £25, £32.50, £39.50; Fri & Sat: £20, £30, £37.50, £45 (Previews: £10, £15, £22.50, £29.50)

Box Office: 020 7836 8463

Website: www.thegoldenvoicemusical.co.uk / www.artstheatrewestend.co.uk

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