Spirit Youth Group’s latest show delivers heaps of quirkiness

Spirit Youth Group’s presentation of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat proved to its enthralled audience what director, Becky Curtis had promised from this Cheddington theatre group – boundless energy, classic comedy, a little pathos and heaps of quirkiness.

For the first time since Spirit’s formation 31 years ago this was a completely sung through event, led by musical director, Julie Stanley. Lyn Drummond joined in.

The Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s multi award-winning show, is one of the world’s most beloved family musicals. Based on Joseph from the Book of Genesis, it tells the story of the favoured son of Jacob; how he is betrayed by his jealous brothers, his subsequent rise to power and how he is reunited with and saves his brothers.

Audiences have generally loved it more for its infectious music, colourful characters, and creative storytelling rather than its theological meaning, and it was no different at Cheddington village hall on 11 July with fun for all the key to its success.

The Spirit Group, aged between 7 and 16, are led by local drama enthusiasts. One of the leaders and a founding member, Colin Bryer said: ‘One of the things of which we are most proud is the fact that our productions involve kids with a huge 10-year age span, all working together as a cohesive team and with every individual a significant part of the whole.’

Notable performers were Reuben Pritchard, 16, who played Joseph. He often shifts his stage to play guitar at The Swan pub, Cheddington open mic sessions, and Pharoah’s Fergus Mclaren, 15. Debuting was seven-year-old Marie Vinokuro, as part of the ensemble.

Read the full story of how Spirit Youth Group has enhanced the spirit of the  Cheddington population of 1900 residents and theatre lovers beyond, in the autumn issue of Tring Living Magazine, delivered the week commencing 1 September.