A NEW musical theatre group has been launched in the dale – with plans to stage an amazing debut show.
Teesdale Operatic Society aims to stage four performances of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at The Witham in December 2020.
The society has been launched by Dawn Trevor, who directed last summer’s outdoor Castle Players production of Alice in Wonderland, along with fellow musical theatre fans Adele Tyler and Joanne Wall.
Ms Trevor said the society would complement and not compete with other theatre and choral groups in the dale.
“My first love is musical theatre – it always has been.
“I moved here in 2013 and the first thing I did was to look for a musical theatre group.
“There wasn’t one in Barnard Castle, so I joined the Castle Players and that fed the dramatic need in me.
“Elsewhere, Darlington Operatic is highly professional and takes a lot of people who are pre-trained and Richmond is too far to go on a dark night.”
She added: “There are some really good choral groups and choirs here, so there is definitely a love of singing.”
Ms Trevor, who is vice-chairman of the Castle Players, said she had been thinking about starting a musical theatre group for several years and was spurred into action after directing Alice in Wonderland.
“You see things from all different angles, so I think it will be good.”
Ms Tyler, who sings with the Euphoria Choir and is also a member of the Castle Players, said she shared Ms Trevor’s passion for musical theatre.
“With Dawn’s drive I thought we could really do it,” she added.
Ms Wall travels to Blyth, in Northumberland, where she is a member of the Beaconsfield Operatic Society, but was looking for something closer to home in Barnard Castle.
Joining the trio as musical director is Jane Ford, well known for leading vocal groups such as Carillon and No Added Sugar.
“There is established singing and there is acting, but nothing that merges the two,” said Ms Trevor.
A new Teesdale Operatic Society website was launched this week and the group will begin in earnest next spring.
An opening meeting is planned for March 5 next year after which a fundraising cabaret-style concert will be held at The Witham, in June.
Preparations for Joseph will start in September with Thursday evenings pencilled for auditions and rehearsals.
In the meantime, Ms Trevor said the licence to stage Joseph had been acquired and efforts to attract funding had begun.
The society is also on the look-out for a venue in which to rehearse.
“Joseph was the very first production I was involved with and the first musical I did at school,” she said.
“For many, it’s their first introduction to musical theatre. It is also enjoying a revival at the moment.
“Everyone knows the story, there are a huge range of parts and a kids chorus.”
For more information, go to www.teesdaleoperaticsociety. co.uk.
