Darren Day takes on the lead role in award-winning West End show, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert at Woking's New Victoria Theatre this month. Kasia Maynard spoke to the West End (and Celebrity Big Brother) star
Check out our review of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert
Based on the smash-hit film, Priscilla Queen of the Desert follows the adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship, and end up finding more than they could have ever dreamed of. This show features hit numbers such as Say a Little Prayer, Go West, Hot Stuff and Always on My Mind, and has won prestigious Tony and Olivier awards.
Darren Day has had a similarly colourful career in film, television and theatre, having shot to fame after his title role in Joseph & the Technicolor Dreamcoat, but he's spent the past decade flying under the radar after his private life became very public in the nineties. Over the phone, he explains how a man who'd been called "Britain's Biggest Love Rat" decided to spend his time "concentrating on being a daddy and a husband".
With that in mind, it might have been a surprise to see him on Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year.
"My role as Tick was already in the pipeline back then", he explains. "I went on Big Brother so I'd have the opportunity for the public – and the media – to see where I'm at. I wanted them to base their opinion of me on how I am now, as opposed to the guy they read about for so many years."
Darren survived until the final, where he came third and won ‘role model’ of the house in a public poll. "That was exactly what I wanted," he laughs. "When I was chosen as a role model on that poll, I thought I could leave tomorrow and be happy."
With that assurance behind him, he felt ready to take on "more publicised roles, again. My children are more grown up. It felt time to go and have a crack at it. I'm genuinely really excited about my career again – it's like being a kid at Christmas."
Darren's recent escapades include new musical theatre album This is the Moment and a role as a villain in the upcoming Ibizan comic thriller movie White Island – so why this role, in particular?
"I came across Priscilla watching Jason Donovan tour in Leeds. It was an incredible, feel-good show, and I decided I wanted to get involved right away," he tells me, enthusiasm obvious in his voice. "As an actor you don’t often go see a show and think ‘oh, I would love to do this’, but I was just mesmerised. The incredible costumes, and the great big show-stopping numbers... when the opportunity presented itself, I didn't have to think very hard!"
"The last time I wanted to be in a show as much as Priscilla is when I saw Joseph back in 1991. It's got everything, and as an actor it ticks all the boxes... if you'll pardon the pun!" Darren laughs. "It's like a big party every night, but there's also a lovely storyline going on with Tick and his little boy. There are some lovely, tender moments between them."
Any worries for this veteran of the stage?
"Well, the last time I was in Woking was back in 2013, with The Rocky Horror Show. I'm starting to think everyone at that theatre will think I spend my life in drag!"
Join the party, and don’t miss Darren Day starring as Tick in Priscilla! For tickets and information visit the New Victoria Theatre website.
