Ian Smith
6 Mar 2026
A Northumberland designer has teamed up with a Hollywood film prop maker whose work appears in Star Wars and Marvel productions to recreate one of musical theatre’s most iconic costumes for the Alnwick stage.
Read Article here: https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/news/people/northumberland-designer-and-star-wars-prop-maker-create-show-stopping-dreamcoat-for-alnwick-show-5622692
Members of the Alnwick Stage Musical Society (ASMS) have been working on the production for months, with the new Dreamcoat forming one of the centrepieces of the show.
Designer Meg Fletcher collaborated with Luke Daley of special effects studio Orbital FX to create a new version of the famous coat for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, which will be staged by ASMS at Alnwick Playhouse from March 17-21.
Luke’s work at Orbital FX involves creating props and special effects elements for major film and television productions. This expertise is now being utilised to help bring an ambitious theatrical costume to life on the Alnwick stage.
The costume - one of the most recognisable garments in musical theatre - has been completely reimagined for the production, blending theatrical costume design with techniques more commonly seen in film and television prop making.
Meg, whose work explores identity and storytelling through clothing, said the project was an opportunity to push the famous coat in a new direction.
She previously showcased her first fashion collection at Alnwick Castle in 2024, making the Dreamcoat project another creative venture linked to the town.
“Creating spectacles that leave a lasting impression on the audience is always my aim,” she explained. “Working with creatives from different disciplines always elevates an idea, which is why collaborating with Orbital FX has been so exciting.”
The team spent around 100 hours developing and constructing the final costume, combining traditional costume-making skills with contemporary materials and fabrication processes. The result is a costume designed to deliver a memorable reveal moment for audiences when it finally appears on stage.
While the iconic rainbow coat remains central to the story, Meg hints that audiences can expect a dramatic moment of transformation during the performance.
“The coat is almost a character in itself,” she said. “When the audience sees it, it should feel like a huge celebration of the journey Joseph and his family have been on.”
Tickets are available now from the Alnwick Playhouse box office and online.