Many of our supporters will remember spotting a number of Johns’ Boys members in Harlan Coben’s Netflix thriller Stay Close, released at the end of 2021. What many people may not know is the fascinating story behind how the choir became involved.
The journey began when Aled spotted a casting advert looking for male singers to feature in a major Netflix production. After making contact with the production team, he was asked to create an arrangement of Farewell, My Own from Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore. Several versions of the arrangement were submitted before the production team selected the one that would eventually feature in the series.
Soon afterwards, a group of the lads travelled to Manchester to meet the Netflix team. Their first day involved performing the music for the directors and production staff before heading to wardrobe for costume fittings. They were then taken onto the set, where they met several of the show’s stars, including James Nesbitt, Richard Armitage, Sarah Parish and Cush Jumbo.
A few days later, the choir members returned for the main filming session. After collecting their costumes and spending time in make-up, they headed back onto the set to begin filming. The music was performed time and time again as scenes were captured from different angles, giving everyone a real insight into the detail, patience and professionalism required to create a major television drama.
One little-known fact from the experience is that Aled was originally asked to grow a beard ahead of filming. The production team felt he had the perfect look to play the captain of the ship featured in the scene and wanted a suitably nautical appearance.
Unfortunately, after weeks of patiently growing it, the beard was deemed unnecessary and was shaved off before filming began! Thankfully, Aled still made it onto the screen, taking on the role of the ship’s captain alongside his musical responsibilities.
The choir’s involvement didn’t end with the filming itself. The full recording of Farewell, My Own was also used over the closing credits of the series, allowing audiences around the world to hear the complete arrangement. For the choir, it was a proud moment to know that their performance formed such an important part of the production’s soundtrack.
From wardrobe fittings and make-up sessions to meeting the cast and experiencing life behind the cameras, it was an unforgettable adventure for everyone involved. It remains one of the most unusual and exciting projects in the choir’s history – and proof that you never quite know where singing might take you next.
