Luke Luby catches up with Trevor Ryan, director of the upcoming “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat” for The Montfort College of Performing Arts.
Q. What drew you to Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, of all musicals?
Well, it hasn’t been produced in Cork in over 20 years, so I was determined to bring something that hasn’t been on stage in quite some time, to ensure both the performers and the audience get to enjoy something relatively ‘new’!
Q. This is "the school's biggest full scale production to date". Were there any difficulties in putting the show together?
It’s been an exciting time buying in sets and costumes from the UK and ensuring our production values were top notch, but as with everything these days, keeping an eye on the budget has been the most difficult of tasks. However despite everything, with the quality of all items bought in, we are lining our set and costume store with the best of everything and as a leading stage school in Cork, we need to always ensure that our students have the best on offer. With that in mind, the quality of performances, production values and fun that’s been had in the rehearsal room, really has outweighed any of those worries!
Q. Most of the people involved in the production are aged between 5 and 22. What was it like working with people in such a big age spectrum? Is it hard working with a number of people under the ages of 10?
I guess it could be difficult but within the rehearsal room, everyone takes responsibility in building a mini community or family – the older performers tend to look after the younger ones while the younger ones keep the rest of us on our toes! Ultimately in the rehearsal room, there always has to be time for fun no matter how you are and so we’ve kept any squabbles far at bay, thankfully! There’s such a lovely bunch of people involved, it really has made a difference to how everyone has got on!
Q. Colm O' Regan is the musical director of the production, while you are the chief director. How do you two work so well together? Have you got experience from working together? What do you think the pair of you brought individually to the production?
Colm came on board with the Montfort`s over a year and has brought a plethora/energy and experience to his musical direction. He also conducts the Montfort Youth Choir and so we’ve worked well together on a number of different projects. He has real passion for music and with his ear, I’ve been blessed for allowing my vision come to life with an excellent aural experience.
Q. Amanda Sylvester, Lisa Meany and Amy O’ Leary were responsible for choreography. What do you think they brought to the show?
All three of our choreographers have worked tremendously hard with such a large group and once again, their energy and enthusiasm for working on musicals and especially working with kids has really brought out the best in everyone! Their choreography is second to none but their infectious energy is really a wonder!
Q. Do you have any plans to tour the show, or would you be enticed to put it on again?
I probably would look at putting it on again but touring a stage school show probably wouldn’t be the most logistically possible with such a large cast of kids. If we were to put it on again, I’d probably wait a while again though so we can give other kids a chance at performing in it.
Q. How many weeks of rehearsal did it take to put on this show?
We’ve actually been rehearsing since the end of the summer, but obviously we didn’t want everyone worn out so that was mainly a weekly rehearsal and then we stepped that up in the last 6 weeks to more regularly. It’s been quite a rollercoaster!
Q. There are over 170 performers involved in the production. What was it like to work with that many people?
It can be tough to work with so many people but the fact that everyone is there with the same goal of putting on the best possible show ever, really makes quite a difference. Everyone has given 110% and that in itself makes my job a lot easier!
Q.Why do you think Joseph has had such enduring popularity after all these years?
The enduring popularity of Joseph rests on a combination of good story-telling and an incredibly creative mixture of popular musical styles from every conceivable genre. But ultimately it takes a really talented cast to fully realise its musical's inspirational and entertainment value. I may be biased, but with the creative team’s and cast’s drive and enthusiasm, we’re sure to keep its popularity alive here in Cork for many years to come!
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat” performs at the Everyman Theatre Tuesday 22nd – Thursday 24th October, 7.30pm
