A COMMUNITY and inter-church production of a much-loved Andrew Lloyd Webber musical will take to the stage next month (May).

The production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has been put together by volunteers from Emmanuel Church Durham and churches and individuals across the city.

Rehearsals began in January and the show will take to the stage at St Leonard’s RC School, North End, Durham, on Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9.

Producer Pete Gray, a youth worker, said: “It’s amazing to see our vision for this production becoming a reality.

“We’ve connected different parts of the community we’re involved with and they’ve come together brilliantly to produce a great show.

“This is a truly community-based, amateur production. We’ve got people who’ve never appeared in anything like this before.

“We’re helping them find their voice and saying – yes, you can have a go.

“But we’ve also got real quality – it promises to be great family entertainment.”

The 60-strong cast and crew includes people aged six to 60 and stars Dave Simpson as Joseph, Lyndsey Holmes as the narrator and Tim Knight as Pharaoh.

The choir of St Hild’s College CofE Primary School will also take part.

Nikki Dravers directs, with Helen Edwards and others producing the costumes, Ali Gray as musical director, Lucy Griffiths and others providing the music and Handcrafted, which helps disadvantaged people find work or start a business, and Raymond Holmes creating the sets.

There will be performances at 7pm each night, plus a 2.30pm Saturday matinee.

Tickets are £5 for adults and £2.50 for children plus a booking fee and can be bought online at eventbrite.co.uk, by searching for Joseph.

For more information or to get involved, email: info@emmanuel.org.uk.