The following year, 1993, "Darren's Gang" was performed at Lea Manor High School, Luton, drawing the attention of the local media in which Richard was interviewed on BBC Radio Bedfordshire about his thoughts on the importance of putting on school musicals, especially for students with no previous experience - views which he still holds today.

After training to be a teacher Richard wrote a short comedy musical for schools called 'Darren's Gang' using the sort of student slang which was around at the time. The songs were recorded by students from his teaching practice school, Hellesdon High School in Norwich.



"Darren's Gang was dedicated to Matthew, James and David, three young musicians, my admiration for whose incessant mischievous recalcitrance was a recurring theme during the formation of the musical's central character."

"Part 4 of the documentary was the most rewarding and exciting part of the mixing process, after spending the entire afternoon in

Broadcasting House, London, with Leon, the sound mixer, as we carefully spliced Ben Madison's words so that they would fit the music."


  Sam on Percussion

Luton Gazette - 30 June 1993

The brand new, zany comedy musical Darren's Gang will be staged at Lea Manor High School, Marsh Farm.
Performed by Year Seven pupils on July 12 and 13, it will form the second half of the annual music concert.
Full of memorable, catchy tunes and lively dance routines, it tells the story of a young boy who joins a gang to try to impress his girlfriend. But she's still not interested and sings a gentle lament, "He's a prat and I think he is stupid."
Darren and the gang, after a riotous rap number, play a trick on the boy who gets upset. Then a glitzy, over-the-top caretaker comes to his rescue.
Darren's Gang is a cautionary tale which uses humour to get across the more serious issues of peer group pressure, bullying, gullibility and keeping up appearances.
It was written by Richard Ellsworth who joined Lea Manor's music staff in September after working for several years behind the microphone for several BBC radio stations.

Richard was inspired to go into teaching in 1990 after producing and presenting a radio documentary about the UK National Children's Orchestra. At the time he was presenting a weekly classical programme on BBC Essex called 'County Classics' as well as being a sound operator/announcer for the newly formed national BBC Radio Five.


The documentary went out both locally and nationally and was the pinnacle of

his work with the BBC.


Being smitten with the musical skills, maturity, friendliness, intelligence and

warmth of the children in the NCO led to the decision to change career path

from broadcasting to music teaching.


Below is the audio of the original documentary.