This year is the 100th birthday of what is now called Blenheim Musical Theatre. Back in the 1970s and 80s I was part of the wardrobe department, becoming involved because I offered to weave the fabric for the 1979 performance of "Joseph." As a weaver this was a fun challenge and an opportunity to get into the technicolour scene which I did with great glee, adding lots of glitter along the way. Tricia Burtenshaw made up the Dreamcoat with my fabric and it looked stunning on the stage with a "cartwheel" of panels as the spokes were unrolled and taken in a circle around Joseph (Greg Christensen) in the finale. Unfortunately I don't have a picture .
The garment has since had a few display outings, in particular at the Creative Fibre National Festival in Blenheim in 2012. Now in 2018 it is the 100th birthday of the "Operatic Society" (as it was called) and there are displays being held in the foyer of Blenheim's grand new ASB Theatre, one decade at a time. Now is the time for the 1970s and here are some photos, and in particular Joseph's Technicolour Dreamcoat.
