In a dance studio somewhere in the city centre, a pole dancer, a singer and a burlesque performer are all practising their routines in the same room together. Rather than the potential set-up for a low-effort joke, it’s all part of the early stages of what could be one of the most riveting shows to come to Manchester in years.
But, despite all of that, Darren, who grew up in a council flat in Hulme, says he still can’t quite believe the level of attention that the House of MCR show has been receiving. Chances are that you will have already seen a billboard poster at your nearby tram stop or outside your favourite bar, whilst a trailer with high-scale production values also recently debuted to a positive response.
And Darren is also keen to highlight that the show is not just about Manchester artists - it’s about artists who have found themselves in the city through different journeys and experiences. “I’ve specially curated the cast with who I think are the best of the best,” Darren explains. “Of course, it’s all subjective but the talent level is exceptional. Every performer has made it through circumstances that just didn’t want them to be able to be who they are.
“Some of the dancers are coming off big, big shows whilst others have never ever had a chance like this before,” Darren explains. “What makes a show like this so special is that you will never really tell who has years of training.