Budding young Holmer Green star hits West End stage (From Bucks Free Press)

Budding young Holmer Green star hits West End stage

9:10am Monday 30th March 2009

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WHILE most nine-year-old boys might be settling down for their Friday nights in front of a games console or playing with pals, young Darius Caple is helping to light up London's West End stage.

The singing and dancing actor, from Winters Way in Holmer Green, is currently treading the boards alongside former Neighbours star Jason Donovan in Priscilla, Queen of The Desert.

The show, which opened on March 10, is currrently wowing audiences at The Palace Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue.

Darius, who plays Donovan's stage son Benjamin, shares the role with other young performers but will be making a weekly appearance in the production.

He said: “It was a bit scary to start with, but you get into it. It's actually quite fun, though, but if you get something wrong you do think 'uh-oh'.”

The youngster experienced a slight mishap when he took a small trip on the preview night while dressed up in a kangaroo costume. Fortunately Darius wasn't left with stage-fright afterwards – he simply chalked it up to the fact the performance took place on Friday the 13th.

Darius said he enjoyed working with his famous co-star, who he actually performs a duet with. He said: “It's a lot of fun - sometimes he can be a bit silly. I like working with him.”

The youngster, who has to adopt an Australian accent for the part, said although he had a few first night nerves, the size of the audience wasn't causing him any more worries.

He said: “This time the lights were so bright you can't see the back rows, only the ones at the front.”

Mum Heidi Caple is delighted with her son's achivement. She said: “He copes really well. I'm very proud of him.

“There's so much going on in the show – it's so funny. I was laughing so much I can't remember all of it.”

Heidi said her son went for the audition last November, but didn't hear he had won the part until late January. Rehearsals began in the half term break, and since then Darius has juggled his west end commitments with his slightly more down-to-earth life at Great Missenden C of E Combined School. Heidi explained Darius was enrolled with Scallywags modelling agency as a way of helping boost his confidence after he struggled with a slight speech problem.

The plan paid off, and he was soon modelling for the likes of Harrods, Marks and Spencer, and even Shrek magazine.

Shortly after the youngster also joined a summer drama club – Trap Door Drama – where his acting talent became clear. More recently the multi-talented Darius is training in dance at The Jackie Palmer school.

The nine-year-old has also appeared in commercials for Ben 10 toys, The Sun, Persil and many others. He features in the opening titles of the BBCs Film 2009 and will soon appear in ITV drama 'Collision'.

He also had the honour of being bellowed at by British film star Ray Winstone, playing his son in The Football Association's Respect Campaign, which encourages better behaviour on the pitch and the sidelines. Darius said: “You get shouted at a lot by Ray Winstone, but it was good.”

At the moment he isn't sure where he wants his career to take him, but he does fancy a part in the final Harry Potter film.

But Darius could be part of a performancing dynasty – brother Conah, 11, has featured in some education books, while sister, four-year-old Kira, is also modelling and is enrolled at The Jackie Palmer school.

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