In 2008 Darius originated the role of Rhett Butler in an ambitious new musical version of the classic 'Gone With The Wind' from Sir Trevor Nunn.
The musical, or rather the 'play with music' as it was decsribed by it's creators, was written by Margaret Martin and was adapted from Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel of the same name and its 1939 film adaptation.

The production began previews on 5th April 2008 and officially opened at the New London Theatre in London's West End on 22nd April 2008.
The production was directed by Nunn and featured sets by John Napier and costumes by Andreane Neofitu. Jill Paice co-starred alongside Darius as Scarlett O'Hara. The show was produced by Aldo Scrofani, Colin Ingram, Gary McAvay and the Nederlander Producing Company.

Darius, who was 27 at the time of the show, impressed all when he auditioned for the role after being recommended by people he had worked with on Chicago.
"We had been auditioning for weeks in England and America when in walked somebody I had never heard of before," Trevor Nunn told the Daily Mail in April 2008.
"He was tall, dark and handsome with big brown eyes and a mischievous expression. I was bowled over by his appearance and his magnificent voice."
Producer Aldo Scrofani added: "People will not worry about Darius' talent when they see him. He is extremely serious and extremely talented. He is wonderful."

​

Talking to the Daily Record about being cast Darius explained:
"The auditions had been going for six months on both sides of the Atlantic before I was asked to audition, I flew to LA and I didn't have any lines when I auditioned because Trevor was trying to keep the script a secret.

"I hadn't even read the book, but I got the call. I did six auditions and that was the toughest audition process I've ever gone through.
It put both the Popstars and Pop Idol auditions in the shade. Trevor Nunn never gave anything away. Then I got a letter from him saying he had no doubt I was Rhett Butler. It was like having a platinum record and a No.1 all over again."

​

The show is an epic Civil War drama and focuses on the life of petulant Southern belle Scarlett O'Hara. Starting with her idyllic life on a sprawling plantation, it traces her survival through the tragic history of the South during the Civil War and her tangled love affairs with Ashley Wilkes and Rhett Butler.

​

Dark, dashing, and scandalous, Rhett Butler brings excitement to Scarlett’s life and encourages her impulse to change and succeed. Thrown out of both West Point and his aristocratic Charleston family for dishonourable behaviour, Rhett, like Scarlett, goes after what he wants and refuses to take ‘no’ for an answer. He earns his fortune through professional gambling, wartime blockade-running, and food speculation, behaviour that earns him the contempt and even hatred of what he terms the Old Guard—the old Southern aristocracy. Rhett sees through hypocrisy and self-delusion, horrifying people by cutting down their egos and illusions with agility and pleasure.

​

Rhett thrives on reality and change. Because of his opportunism, Rhett symbolises the New South. However, as the story progresses, we see that Rhett does care about the Old South. At two critical points, Rhett abandons Scarlett to commit himself to the Old South. Firstly, he leaves Scarlett in hostile territory and joins the Confederate army and then at the end of the he leaves Scarlett and goes in search of remnants of the Old South. This sentimentality complicates Rhett’s character and reveals that he is partially motivated by emotion. Ultimately, Rhett symbolises pragmatism, the practical acceptance of the reality that the South must face in order to survive in a changed world. He understands that the U.S. government has overhauled the Southern economy and that the old way of life is gone forever. He adapts to the situation masterfully, but he does not fully abandon the idealized Southern past.

​

Rhett falls in love with Scarlett, but, despite their eventual marriage, their relationship never succeeds because of Scarlett’s obsession with Ashley and Rhett’s reluctance to express his feelings. Because Rhett knows that Scarlett scorns men she can win easily, Rhett refuses to show her she was won him. He mocks her, argues with her, and eventually resorts to cruelty and indifference in order to win her. But his fondness for her is evident in his support of her, as he encourages her to shun social customs and gives her money to start her own business.

​

Digital Spy reported that Darius earned a standing ovation on the official opening night of the show and added
"The singer impressed a star-studded audience including Joan Collins, Barbara Windsor and Twiggy during the opening night of the West End production at the New London Theatre."
Darius described the three-and-a-half-hour show as a "blast", saying: "It was my first opening night and it was great to cut my teeth with the inimitable Trevor Nunn."

​

Independent critic Paul Taylor praised Darius as "diabolically dashing" turn and said he brought "a seductively insolent charm" to the part made famous by Clark Gable in the 1939 film.

A documentary on the making of the musical aired on TCM and featured interviews with cast and creatives, including Darius.
You can watch the full documentary below: