Your pop career's over, why not try the West End?

The hits have dried up, you don't fancy starring on a reality show and you've got a drink/ drugs/ gambling/ shopping addiction that needs financing. What do you do if you're a washed-up pop star? Some manage to go out and get themselves a 'proper' job (rare, but not completely unheard of), others languish in small, local bars or university balls pushing new material that no-one wants to hear, though it seems increasingly popular to star on the West End stage.

After all, it's regular money, no travel and gets your name in the papers. Theatre audiences might be tamer than the stampede of hormonally-charged teens that pop idols are used to, but the daily standing ovations sweeten the pill. And now, after disappearing from view for a while, another has-been is busy practicing their jazz hands.

The former chart-topper is Darius Danesh. Best known for acting like a pony-tailed prick on Pop Stars before gaining a following on Pop Idol (he came third to Gareth Gates and Will Young), Darius does boast some theatrical experience. He portrayed Billy Flynn in Chicago (like, who hasn't?) and Guy Masterson in Guys and Dolls and is now playing Rhett Butler in the musical version of Gone With the Wind, now previewing at the New London Theatre (for more details, visit the show's official site here).

Chicago is a particular favourite for former pop puppets, having recently signed that-girl-from-Hear'Say-that-isn't-Myleene-Klass to don the fishnets as Roxie Hart, but all West End shows seem increasingly guilty of the charge. Glitterditch worries what depths they will soon plummet to once they have used every former member of Steps/ Blue/ S Club 7/ Hear'Say? There is only so much mediocrity to go round.

Flickr image from slimmer_jimmer's photostream.

Written by Katie on 7 Apr 2008 3:54 PM. Permalink