The Creative Team
DARREN COGGAN - Performer/Composer/Producer
Darren’s
professional career kicked off in 1996 when he won the prestigious Toyota Star
Maker Award at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
In
1998, Darren was named "Young Citizen of the Year" in his beloved hometown of
Wagga Wagga.
1999
saw Darren cast as "Richie Cunningham" in the World Premiere Arena Mega Musical
“Happy Days” presented by Dainty Consolidated Entertainment, which toured
Australia extensively.
In
January 2001 Darren was awarded his first Golden Guitar at the Toyota Country
Music Awards of Australia. This same year Darren hosted Foxtel’s top rating
television show "Out & About - The Great Aussie Pub Tour" and made a guest
appearance on the award winning Channel 7 drama "All
Saints".
Darren
was cast to play the dual role of "Teen Angel" and "Vince Fontaine" in "Grease -
The Mega Musical" presented by SEL & Gordon Frost Organisation, which toured
Australia in the "Big Top" throughout 2001-2002.
Darren
followed this up with the national “Big Top” tour of "Shout - the musical of the
Wild One", presented by Jacobsen Entertainment in which he played several roles
including 'Col Joye'.
In
recognition of his outstanding achievements, Darren was awarded the ‘Centenary
Medal’ – ‘For Services to Australian Society’ in 2003. This same year, he
released
his second album, "Balancing Act", for which he was awarded ‘Australian
Independent Male Vocalist of the Year’.
He
made another two guest appearances on the award winning Channel 7 drama, “All
Saints” in 2004/05 and understudied John
Farnham
as Teen Angel in “Grease - The Arena Spectacular”, presented by SEL &
GFO.
2008
saw Darren release his fourth album, ‘WAR STORIES’ – a moving salute to the
ANZACS for which he was awarded his second Golden Guitar. This year also saw him
play the lead role in the world premiere production of John Williamson’s musical
Quambatook.
Darren
kicked off 2010 by performing to a sell out concert hall at The Sydney Opera
House in his highly acclaimed production “PEACE TRAIN – THE CAT STEVENS STORY”.
“Peace Train”, then continued to play every major venue in Australia on a
national tour.
KEN McBEATH - Writer/Composer
Ken
McBeath is a man of many talents and those talents converge into one central
feature: writing. While he is also a high school teacher, musician and artist,
everything comes back to his ability to craft and manoeuvre words into feelings
and emotions.
Ken has
written and directed many musicals including Cuckoos, A Fish Called Wagga and Stop The World for The Brewers Troupe
Theatre. Ken also started his popular community theatre group Drama Katz, which continues to provide
original ensemble theatrical works in Sydney. In 2002 Ken wrote the music for Grunge McBeath which played a successful
season at The Seymour Centre.
Together
with Darren Coggan, Ken was awarded a Golden Guitar for ‘Heritage Song Of The
Year’ for their song ‘Too Dark For The Light Horse’ from the album War Stories,
at the 37th Country Music Awards of Australia.
Since
2004 Ken has been Head Teacher of Performing Arts, Campbelltown High School and
was most recently awarded the National & State award for
Excellence in teaching.
