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Darren Clark is a two-time Olivier Award winning composer and lyricist working in the theatre in the UK and internationally. Since beginning his professional career in 2012, he has been commissioned to write music and lyrics for several national touring shows and his work has been heard in London’s West End, at The Royal Shakespeare Company, Off West End, Off-Broadway and in many of the UK’s finest regional theatres. Following his days as an Otago University student in NZ performing in countless musicals and plays, Darren left NZ for the UK to pursue a career as a songwriter in London town. Following several years on the singer/songwriter circuit and with his band Columbus Giant, Darren began to write music & lyrics for the theatre. Darren has written the music and lyrics for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button which one three Olivier awards in 2025 including Best New Musical and the Off-West End Award for Best Musical Production in 2024. Button is currently running at The Ambassadors Theatre on London’s West End. Along with Rhys Jennings, he is the inaugural recipient of the Music Theatre International Stiles & Drewe Mentorship Award and his songs have appeared as finalist in the...

Are you (or could you be) a producer of musical theatre in the Midlands? Do you make live events happen, perhaps as a creative yourself, perhaps co-ordinating things for collaborators or your local community? Are you interested in finding out more about being a producer of musical theatre in the Midlands? And about opportunities to get involved locally with new musicals/music theatre? Or are you an early career producer of musical theatre or music in the Midlands and want to find out more about opportunities, and meet some like-minded individuals? If your answer to any of these questions is ‘yes’, then we’d love to invite you to a free event hosted by Musical Theatre Network, China Plate and Royal & Derngate. We will share some industry insights, signpost relevant opportunities, and give you the chance to meet other producers/future producers, and discuss what would help you achieve your ambitions in this area.You don’t need to already be a producer. If musical theatre interests you, and you’re someone who likes making things happen – come join us for a conversation!     

Dorothy and Her Very Many Friends is a synth-pop musical about the true story of the persecution of gay sailors in 1980s America and the futile search for the elusive Dorothy who connected them all. In 1980s America, the Naval Investigative Service are intensively hunting down and discharging gay sailors in the US Navy at an unprecedented rate. But if they truly want to win their war on homosexuality, they know that they must first defeat the one woman standing in their way: Dorothy. Who is Dorothy? What does Dorothy want? How can she possibly be friends with every gay sailor? Can she bring down the entire Navy, and perhaps the country, too? Only one man, with a predictable secret of his own, can stop her. Powered by an 80s synth pop score, ‘Dorothy and Her Very Many Friends’ is a surreal musical comedy inspired by a lesser-known chapter of queer history. Part of Genfest 2025 Discover the full line-up of performances, workshops and artist one-to-one’s taking place across GenFest, Sun 16 – Sat 22 November. Each event is part of our annual festival celebrating artist development and new work. View the GenFest Brochure Online here | Find out more about the...

A new show about extinct gigantic, charismatic, megafauna from 3-time Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominated Comedian, and very good comedian Josie Long. In these troubled times, in this wicked world, it can feel like apocalypse is everywhere but did you know 11,000 years ago there were some really big armadillos? I’m talking about as big as a car. Really big. And they were vegetarian so don’t even worry about them. Also my daughter has a hamster and I’m not saying distract yourself from everything, but I’m saying he’s also part of everything. Josie is back with a new show about discovery, wonder, extinction and how to walk through a landscape of monstrous disaster. There is also a good tip about silt, guaranteed. ????? The Skinny ???? The Telegraph