Hampshire performer aims for stardom on ITV’s Mamma Mia!

Hampshire’s Darcy James is one of the 14 performers hoping to star in West End hit Mamma Mia!

Darcy from Farnborough grew up loving musical theatre and did pantomimes with Starburst Theatre group where he was inspired to become an actor.

From his charity work with Starburst Theatre, he went on to study in London Music College, but his time at university was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Darcy said that his experience on Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream “felt like the end of drama school that I needed and has gained brothers and sisters for life”.

The 23-year-old is hoping to land a year long contract as Sky in Mamma Mia on the West End. Darcy said: “Sky is the perfect guy on paper, he is fun loving but there is much more to him that audience don’t see.”

He hopes that through his own interpretation and the other boys, the audience get to see Sky for who is outside of his relationship with Sophie. 

Although they are all competing for a West End contract Darcy said there was no rivalry between them. He said: “As a performer you learn from your peers, and you can’t help immerse yourself into what the others are doing.” 

There is one contestant that Darcy got close with during his time in Corfu after their performance in week one.

He said: “You got a lot of pressure but thankfully I had Callum with me and we are not your fullout musical theatre people.

“We can do more storytelling and make a performance out there and that really helps with our first song.”

Despite performing in front of a live audience, it is the all-star panel that Darcy has to impress. The judging panel features comedian Alan Carr and West End star Samantha Barks who found her fame on BBC talent show, I’d Do Anything. 

Darcy said: “I am a massive fan of them all and they all bought something different to the table especially Samantha Barks as she went through the same thing.”

Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream was filmed in Corfu and Darcy said “it was insane to be immersed in this experience and I get giddy just talking about it because it was so much fun”.

Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream airs every Sunday on ITV at 6:45pm.