For over 30 years I have been going to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on stage in various guises and the show never seems to age. With this in mind I was looking to seeing what the newly revamped Bill Kenwright version had to offer this time round as I visited the lovely Rhyl Pavillion for the first time.
What hasn’t changed from my last visit to this production is the painfully long overture which seems to showcase every song in the score even before the curtain rises. Also still in there is the 2nd song from Pharaoh which for me is not needed and interrupts the flow of the whole show. We still have the infamous misbehaving sheep, although I think the flock has grown since my last viewing.
What has changed is Joseph himself, played for the last couple of tours by the superb Joe McElderry he has handed over the coat to Union J star Jaymi Hensley. I have documented on this site that I believe McElderry is the best Joseph ever to be on stage, however Hensley does a fantastic job and comes in my top 5. Vocally he is strong in all areas and his acting is assured for his musical theatre debut.
Our narrator for this tour is Trina Hill who does a good job of keeping to story flowing throughout the evening. He interactions with the youth choir on stage and fellow cast members is good however I felt she struggled slightly with some of the more powerful vocal parts.
Pharaoh is played by the larger than life Andrew Geater powers through the Elvis inspired opening to act 2 displaying all the characteristics of the King. He has the audience in the palm of his hands from the second he appears on stage to the accompaniment of pyrotechnics.
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice are credited with the success of this show but one other name should be added to this talented duo. Mr Henry Metcalfe has been involved with this show since the 70’s and provided the original chorography. He has played Jacob for as long as I can remember and I can’t imagine ever seeing this show without him.
Joseph’s 11 brothers are all played superbly here with Alex Hetherington, Matt Jolly and Arthur Boan shining with their vocal abilities and Mikey Jay-Heath standing out with his movement and obvious passion for his role.
The three hardest working members of this cast are without question Amber Kennedy, Eve Norris and Gemma Pipe as the handmaidens and other roles. The number of costume changes these three undertook during the 2 hour performance was simply mind blowing.
Joseph is a timeless piece of musical theatre that sends you away from the theatre with a spring in your step and a smile on your face. With new additional choreography from Gary Lloyd I defy anybody not to enjoy this musical gem.
Joseph continues at Rhyl Pavilion until Saturday 30th March and then continues its UK tour until July.
It was a night of music and colour last night as we got to see JOSEPH and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring Union J star Jaymi Hensley at the Rhyl Pavilion.
The show not only looks amazing with its very lavish sets that take us on a trip to a distant land and time, but it is chocked full of life and colour and music that can only be described as magical, with songs such as Go, Go, Go Joseph, Any Dream Will Do, Jacob and Sons and Close Every Door To Me.
The musical extravaganza is a retelling the Biblical story of Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many winderous colours, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the first of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals to be performed publicly.
Last night’s opening performance at the Rhyl Pavilion was packed out with an audience of all ages from kids to grandparents, this only goes to show that Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is a show that is perfect for all ages and from my time seeing the show last night for the first time, I can see why.
Jaymi Hensley put on a stellar performance as Joseph, from the first time he came on to the stage and started his performance right up to the sanding ovation that the show got at the end, he brought his style to the role and not only was his performance a delight to watch, it was equally a delight to listen to as well.
Jaymi is joined by the narrator played wonderfully by Trina Hall as she brings the narration to life with her performance.
All the cast in the show brought so many smiles to the faces of the audience throughput the night, I could see lots of the children singing away to the songs and some even duplicating the performances as well, but it wasn’t just the kids that were enjoying themselves, the parents and grandparents were also taking in the superb performances on the stage and enjoying a good family night out.
One thing you can always rely upon a Bill Kenwright production is the look and feel of a show and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is no exception, the set is lavishly designed by Sean Cavanagh and takes the audience to Egypt in a delightful way, that is beautifully designed, add in the perfect lighting design from Nick Richings and what more could you ask for.
Henry Metcalfe’s choreography brings all the show to life and works wonderfully with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music and Tim Rice’s lyrics.
This is a musical that is worth catching live, I’ve never seen the show before and I was surprised by not only the superb set and cast, but the music as well, it is weird and wonderful, not just your run of the mill musical numbers, Joseph mixes in many genres to bring the show to life on the stage, certainly a show you don’t want to miss.
Worthy of its standing ovation
Summary
A truly wonderful musical, superb music, amazing set design and a cast that is spell-binding, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is a sheer delight to watch *****
Rhyl was a sea of colours as audience members enjoyed one of the most popular musicals of all time
When I heard that Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was heading on a UK tour and stopping in the seaside town of Rhyl, I just couldn’t not go and see it.
The show, over the years, has been seen by an estimated 26 million people but I’ve got a confession to make… I’ve never seen it!!!
For years I’ve managed to avoid watching any clips or listening to songs from the production as I didn’t want to create any preconceptions before seeing the show live and wow did it live up to the wait!
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat cleverly retells the biblical story of Joseph and his 11 brothers, including that fabulous coat of many colours, all through the medium of song. Trina Hall brought the story to life through her narration.
Jaymi Hensely, best known for being part of pop band Union J, who rose to fame on the X Factor in 2012, took on the role of Joseph in this production. I couldn’t believe Joseph is his musical debut, he took to the stage with complete ease and fantastic strong and powerful vocals. Here’s hoping he’s in many more musicals!
The lavish sets take you on an adventure to Egypt with clever lighting to match the mood with the scene. From the off, the scene is set, you know what you’re going to get from this musical and I really loved that, despite the fact there were a couple of misbehaving sheep but they were soon put back in check by the cast!
The whole ensemble worked so hard throughout the night, with costumes changes galore it was hard to keep up with who was actually on and off stage as the changing was seamless. You couldn’t take your eyes of the routines and the crazy costumes! One of my favourite scenes has to be with Pharoah played by Andrew Geater it was packed with fun and a big hit with the audience!
The young stage group from Mostyn also put on a great performance, singing from the sides of the staging throughout the whole show, with smiles a plenty.
Fantastic sets, first class acting and catchy songs – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is timeless with everything you could want from a musical, making it the perfect show for the whole family!
If you like your musicals served in glorious technicolor, then the Theatre Royal is the place for you this week. Sam Wonfor found the most colourful coat she had (it was still black) and got herself down there.
Union J star Jaymi Hensley added ‘show must go on hero’ to his CV underneath the most recent entry, which sees him donning the famous coat of many colours in Bill Kenwright’s sparkling production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash hit musical, which will be bathing the Theatre Royal stalls in rainbows until Saturday (April 6).
An announcement before curtain up clarified that the blue support bandage Jaymi would be sporting throughout the performance was not a new costume accessory they were trying out… more he had opted to power through like a true trouper after suffering a knee-related mishap.
As we found out later, just half an hour before the first bars of the overture, the sizeable cast (all those brothers!) were busy re-blocking big chunks of the performance to accommodate their injured leading man. And they did a sterling job.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Credit: Pamela Raith Photography
Aside from the odd limp – and the aforementioned knee support – there was no evidence of anything being amiss throughout the non-stop and very high-energy performance, which recounts the bible’s most kaleidoscopic tale through nothing but song.
For the uninitiated, the story swirls around Jacob’s favourite son. One of a dozen, Joseph is the one Jacob loves the most – and just to make sure everyone knows it (elementary parenting mistake right there) he gives him a coat boasting all the colours of the rainbow and then some.
This, coupled with the fact that Joseph is unquestionably a pain in the neck of whiplash proportions, sees his brothers decide to get rid – selling him up the Nile into slavery.
After getting himself into bother and subsequently into jail, Joseph discovers he’s pretty special when it comes to spelling out the meaning of dreams.
So when the Pharoah is having a nightmare trying to decipher his dreams, Joseph steps up, in impressive fashion to save the day – saving himself into the bargain.
It’s not long before everyone is reunited and rejoicing in Joseph’s cleverness… he did deserve the special clobber after all.
Founded in a concept album of 1969, the iconic musical’s score features a melting pot of musical homages, including everyone’s favourite Elvis impersonator, the Pharoah himself.
A lively way to spend a couple of hours, the show features a crowd of timeless songs including Go, Go, Go Joseph, Any Dream Will Do, Jacob and Sons, Poor Poor Joseph and Close Every Door To Me. While not compulsory, singing along is absolutely inevitable. Even 24 hours after that finale Joseph megamix.
Making his major musical debut, Jaymi – who got his big break as part of the X Factor bandwagon of 2013 – led the very capable cast in confident and colourful fashion.
Trina Hill also deserves a big slice of the applause for belting out the story and keeping everyone on track as the Narrator.
Meanwhile the Joseph children’s choir, made up of pupils from Northern Star Theatre Arts in Sunderland also did themselves proud +10.
Now then, can some one bring me my coloured coat, and I’ll be on my way.
Jaymi Hensley is most recognised for his success with the popular boyband Union J. However, he is now taking part in the theatre scene! We caught up with Jaymi to find out how things are going with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat so far!
You’ve just been cast as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, is acting something which has always interested you?
Yes acting has always been a massive passion of mine, I think musical theatre was what I always set out to do at stage school but music is what I fell into, so it’s great to revisit musical theatre. To have been offered this role was a dream come true and it had come at the right time and point in my career as it was just shortly after Union J decided to take a music break.
Which songs are you most looking forward to performing?
‘Close Every Door’ is definitely my favourite, it’s such an emotional big song, and such a great song! I love them all but ‘Close Every Door’ is the stand out one for me on this tour.
What else have you been getting up to recently?
To be honest I haven’t had much time to do anything else, just working hard in Joseph. It’s quite full on, but have some really exciting things lined up for the rest of the year aside from Joseph. I do hope to do more TV. I would love to do The Jungle or Strictly Come Dancing at some point of my career or even Dancing On Ice. Who knows what could be next?
How was your experience on Coach Trip?
I enjoyed Coach Trip. It was a great experience and enjoyed being on the coach with such amazing people. I know there had been some drama but when is there not drama when it comes to TV? I made some amazing friends from the show and regularly keep in touch with them. It’s a good show and would say if anyone else in the industry had to be offered it they should consider. It’s all fun and games and a good laugh.
Moving from singing in Union J to performing in a hit West End show, is there anything you’re nervous for?
I think my biggest fear was doing the role justice, it’s so iconic and some huge stars have played it previously, but the reaction has been great and people seem to be really enjoying what I am doing!
How can fans keep up to date with your adventures?
Keep up to date on my socials @jaymiujworld OnTwitter or @jaymihensley on Instagram or on @jaymiupdates on all social platforms.
Union J singer's dream comes true as he prepares to star as Joseph at Chester Storyhouse
Jaymi Hensley said he is a big fan of Chester.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat arrives at Storyhouse next week, and it's set to be one colourful spectacle.
This time it's Union J singer Jaymi Hensley's turn to don the iconic Technicolour Dreamcoat in what is the 29-year-old's first ever major musical role in Bill Kenwright’s production of the iconic Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber show.
Already receiving rave reviews, the classic family favourite musical is at Storyhouse from Tuesday, April 16 to Saturday, April 20 and runs for 10 performances only.
Retelling the Biblical story of Joseph, his 11 brothers and the coat of many colours, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the first of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals to be performed publicly and to date has been seen by an estimated 26 million people and counting.
Full of life and colour, the musical features unforgettable and timeless songs including Go, Go, Go Joseph; Any Dream Will Do; Jacob and Sons; and Close Every Door To Me.
Jaymi, who rose to fame with Union J on The X Factor, spoke exclusively to CheshireLive ahead of the show, and said he is having the time of his life travelling the country with the show.
"It's super fun, I'm on week seven now and it's amazing, I really am having the best time.
"The cast, the audience, they have all been great. It's a dream come true to be in the show to be honest."
But it's not been without its challenges. Disaster struck when Jaymi, while enjoying a night out last weekend, damaged a ligament in his knee which meant a number of changes had to be hastily rewritten to the show.
"I did something to my ligament in my knee last weekend so they had to change a lot of the show to accommodate that, which means I'm not jumping around as much!
"So that's been a bit of a challenge! When it happened though, I was determined to stay on stage, I really didn't want to go off," he said. "It's been fine in the end."
And as for stepping into the famous coat worn previously by stars like Jason Donovan, Phillip Schofield and Lee Mead, it's an intimidating prospect but one that Jaymi relishes.
"It is quite daunting but also nice to know that I really had to train hard for it. It's a real iconic role but I am trying to bring my own take to it.
"I think we generally keep the basics of the show the same, although there is a lot of modern choreography in it and I've tried to give things my take," he added.
"When I think of iconic roles in musical theatre, Joseph was always the one that I dreamt of playing growing up. So to finally be able to play it is a dream come true."
And there's another reason Jaymi's looking forward to coming to Chester - the shops!
"I love Chester, I really do, it's a great place. I must say that I absolutely love Cheshire Oaks though, so hopefully I will get time to fit in a visit there."
I’m nailing my colours to Joseph's Coat & saying that Jaymi Hensley is the BEST Joseph I've ever seen & I've seen all the big names and this is the best production I’ve seen in years too.
Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat was originally written for schools back in 1968 and was the first musical that I appeared in, at school, sporting dodgy dungarees as one of the brothers. I’ve seen various incarnations with all the big names, Jason Donovan, Philip Schofield, Lee Mead, and Joe McElderry. I absolutely still love the story, and the biblically based lyrics, in my opinion, are some of the cleverest penned by Tim Rice, teamed with the brilliance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music. I recall almost every song, verbatim!
Union J’s Jaymi Hensley dons the Technicolor Dreamcoat for his first ever major musical role. I had low expectations, if I’m entirely honest, as I’d dismissed Jaymi as another boyband member, but I’ve had to eat a huge slice of humble pie and state, categorically that he is beyond doubt, THE BEST Joseph I’ve ever seen and as mentioned above, I’ve seen all the big names. His portrayal of Joseph, is so emotional, his vocal range extraordinarily powerful, sometimes bordering on operatic and for someone whose musical debut this is, his acting is mature and poised. I’m blown away, and I know most of the surrounding press pack were too.
I loved the new choreography from Gary Lloyd (Thriller Live), and it gave this sparkling family musical, a contemporary feel and really brought it to life in a technicoloured explosion of joy. Retelling the biblical story of Joseph, his eleven brothers, and the coat of many colours, this magical musical is full of unforgettable songs including Go, Go, Go Joseph, Any Dream Will Do. My favourite character is Pharaoh and the Elvis pastiche “Song of the Kings”, gets me on my feet. Andrew Geater as Pharaoh is the embodiment of Elvis, encompassing the hip thrusts, the trademark snarl and that glorious sexy baritone. The brothers are phenomenal and maintain the high energy throughout the performance. I love the switch between cowboy, French and calypso – all done seamlessly. Trina Hill reminds me of Linzi Hately's wonderful Narrator.
The Arts1 Choir which feature in Joseph were formed by auditioning over 100 youngsters from MK who worked under the expert tutelage of Arts1 Principal Rebecca Carrington and current Urdang trainee and Arts1 vocal coach Libby Hewitt. Arts1 has a range of choirs for young people and adults, and is soon to be auditioning for a brand-new contemporary acapella choir for experienced singers. This is unquestionably, also the best Joseph choir I’ve had the pleasure of watching too!
The show never dates, does not take itself seriously, is bright, fun, joyous and when the Joseph Megamix kicks in, you’d had have to be pretty uptight not to rise to your feet and join in this most joyous of the Lloyd Webber/Rice shows. Directed by Bill Kenwright.
If you’ve seen Joseph as many times as I have, you can still be surprised, so Go Go Go and see this wonderful show on at Milton Keynes Theatre till 13th April.
So before I begin my review of the latest Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat tour, I just wanted to clarify a few things.
I am a huge theatre fan and have seen lots of productions, including my all time favourite Les Mis (definitely more than a handful of times)
I have never ever seen this production in theatre and knew very little about the show before attending last night.
So I attended Milton Keynes Theatre’s opening night of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat last night, and I didn’t really know what to expect. As I mentioned above, I have never seen this production before so I was going in completely blind.
So here’s my honest, sincere and very unique review of the show from a Joseph virgin perspective…
For a show based on a biblical story that started out in 1968 as a 15 minute pop cantata written for a London school, the success of the production show must seem like a dream for Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Since it’s first West End debut in 1973, it’s estimated that 26 million people all over the world have seen it. Now I can finally clarify, I have seen Joseph and I am no longer alien nor a theatre virgin!
The audience was full of all ages alike. I had an elderly couple sat to my right and a family with children to my left, and the ambience was extremely energy fuelled and magical. My initial thought was…this is going to be a show worth seeing.
The star of the show was Jaymi Hensley, a fellow Lutionian who rose to success on The X Factor several years ago in a group called Union J. I was completely taken aback by how well he could sing. We all know The X Factor is for singers to showcase their talent, but this isn’t always the case. Jaymi’s rendition of Any Dream Will Do was phenomenal and left the whole audience up on their feet, especially at the end of the production when everyone (and I mean everyone) was dancing, singing and cheering. It was truly a happy experience and a very feel-good production for all to get involved with.
Another cast member that stood out for me was Andrew Geater who plays the (Elvis inspired) Pharaoh/Asher. The humour he introduced to the production was above and beyond, and had my whole row chuckling into their hands. Andrew has previously performed as Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, Henchman in Snow White and lead vocalist in Red Hot Broadway.
I couldn’t write this review and not do a shout-out to the amazing school children from Arts1 for their role throughout the production too. It was beautifully led by Trina Hill playing Narrator, and was really uplifting.
The costumes and stage props were technicolored in every essence, and really kept to the theme of the show. I mean, especially that Dreamcoat at the end. Could you get any brighter?
If you are a Joseph virgin then check out the tour dates and go and support these guys on their tour. It will leave you feeling happy, uplifted and singing Any Dream Will Do for a day or two.
One of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's best loved shows, Joseph has returned to Milton Keynes Theatre as it celebrates its 50th year.
This is a firm audience favourite with songs that have stood the test of time but it's been given a new lease of life with an outstanding lead performance from Union J's Jaymi Hensley who gives an emotional and powerful portrayal of Joseph, writes Chris Gregg.
The show is based on an Old Testament tale of Jacob's unusually large large litter of a dozen male children including Joseph who is his Dad's favourite and gives him a very nice rainbow striped coat.
This doesn't go down well with his brothers who find him smug and annoying, especially when he tells them he has a dream that he will rule over them. So they sell him as a slave and rip up his coat. Then things get even worse for Joseph as he is imprisoned and tortured. But will his dream still somehow come true?
Jaymi says there was something about the character which he could relate to.
"I had people at school, who told me I couldn’t be what I wanted to be. I’m a dreamer; I wanted to be a star. I also had something that made me different; being a gay man and finding out at a young age.
"I always had my head in the clouds, but I was always sure of who I was and I never let what anyone said deter me. That’s how I approached Joseph, with the message that as long as you stand by who you are, eventually the rest of the world will see how wonderful you are too."
This touring version of Joseph has had many incarnations with lead performances from the likes of Joe McElderry and H from Steps but Jaymi Hemsley takes the show to a different level from other productions with a phenomenal performance.
There is a real sincerity and passion to his Joseph and a raw emotion to his performance of Close Every Door towards the end of the first act.
He caps it off with a brilliant reprise of Any Dream Will Do when he is reunited with Jacob which will leave you in no doubt that he really belongs in this role. Jaymi has a very successful future ahead of him on the stage if he can keep up the passion and integrity of this performance.
Alongside him are a strong cast with Trina Hill as the Narrator giving a solid performance and a show stopping entrance by Andrew Geater as the Pharaoh in classic Elvis style. Special mention should also go to Amber Kennedy who gives a spectacular tango performance in the second act.
Local kids from Arts1 form the chorus and do a great job of sitting very still and looking straight ahead for long periods of time on stage between their singing. There is a great sound system pumping out the songs and it was great to see even the techies on the sound desk dancing to the music.
At the end of the show, as the audience gave him a standing ovation, Jaymi said he had seen his first theatre show at Milton Keynes Theatre and that it was a special night for him to be performing in his home town. And judging by the reaction on the opening night, the audience were equally thrilled to have him here.
If you've seen Joseph before, this show will go way beyond your expectations and if you've never been, there's no better way to experience it. It's a real feelgood show for the whole family which will leave you whistling the music for weeks.
Something slightly different from me today… I was invited to the opening night of the Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat show at Milton Keynes Theatre last night! I remember going to see Joseph with school years ago when MK Theatre was still very new. I absolutely loved the show (so much so that I bought the cassette!) and even now I still find myself singing along to the catchy songs in the shower as they’ve stuck with me for life.
I was really excited to find out that the show was returning to MK Theatre and thrilled to have been invited to check it out. Milton Keynes Theatre is located right in the heart of the town with plenty of bars and restaurants nearby on 12th Street. It’s wonderful to have a local theatre that puts on proper productions without the need to go into London and deal with all the hustle and bustle of the city.
In case you don’t already know the story of Joseph, it’s a retelling of a Biblical story where Joseph is his father’s favourite child and he’s able to interpret dreams (and he’s also the bearer of a pretty snazzy rainbow coat). His eleven brothers are very jealous of this, and therefore they take Joseph to sell him as a slave and tell their father that he is dead. The story then follows Joseph through his time as a slave and then in jail before becoming one of the most powerful men in Egypt and is finally reunited with his family.
The musical is 50 years old this year and this version features Union J’s (X Factor) Jaymi Hensley as Joseph for his first ever major musical role. Jaymi plays the role of sweet and innocent Joseph perfectly and he put on a superb performance. I loved his strong vocals and equally excellent acting skills, and the fact that he was topless for the majority of the show was also a bonus!
I was worried that the show might come across a little bit dated as it’s been repeated so many times. But Joseph is a classic, and the staging, colourful costumes and props made it seem fresh and vibrant. There were plenty of up to date references throughout the show including the Pharaoh paying for slave Joseph using his American Express card, and Joseph’s golden chariot at the end of the show was a motorbike!
The choreography was excellent and contemporary, including a bit of breakdancing as well as some very sassy dancing from the female dancers. My favourite bit has to be the megamix at the end of the show which was a speedy remix of all the best songs along with dancing from the whole cast!
The production may be half a century old but Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s songs are timeless and nothing beats hearing them sung live on stage along with a live orchestra. Combined with the mesmerising lighting and of course the catchy lyrics, Joseph is a show not to be missed, and I’m 100% certain that you’ll be humming ‘Go, Go, Go Joseph’ for days!
Joseph comes to Milton Keynes Theatre until Saturday 13 April and provides us with one of the best shows to ever hit the stage. There are so many reasons to go and see this show. Its family friendly, it has humour, with exceptional songs by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber that have you singing along and of course, a fantastic cast. With all that you know you are guaranteed a good night out.
Way way back, many centuries ago. Not long after the bible began… okay I will tell you quickly the outline of the story, although I’d rather sing it. Joseph is the well-known biblical story a boy who could interpret dreams. Joseph is the youngest of 12 children of Jacob and as he was Jacob’s favourite son which his brothers didn’t like. After Jacob gives Joseph a multi-coloured coat, his brothers decide to get rid of Joseph – and sell him as a slave. Joseph ends up in Egypt and works hard from nothing to become the successful number two of the Pharaoh. It is a real rags to riches story.
Joseph is played by Jaymi Hensley who younger audience members will know as a member of Union J. This is Jaymi’s first theatrical outing and the part of Joseph has big shoes to fill with Philip Schofield, Joe McElderry and Jason Donovan who have all previously undertaken the role. However, Jaymi is absolutely outstanding in his portrayal of Joseph and is easily on a par with his peers. Jaymi holds the audience in the palm of his hands and is funny and sincere in the role. I very much enjoyed him parodying Elvis when he asks Elvis to sing again. Jaymi also has an amazing voice and his range effortlessly gives each song meaning. But Jaymi is not just a great singer; he can also act extremely well. He demonstrates pain, love and humour in the role. Close Every Door was an emotional rollercoaster; you could hear a pin drop in the theatre as every audience member was spellbound by his performance.
The story is told by a Narrator and in this show that part is played by Trina Hill. Her expression in her voice gives weight to the story she is telling. She has a lovely smile and her voice is pure and gives the songs a gravitas. It really feels she is telling us a story worth hearing. Of course Jacob has another eleven sons which all gave brilliant performances. I particularly enjoyed Benjamin played by Alex Hetherington, who really gave innocence to his role. All the cast were fantastic but I do have to give a special mention to Andrew Geater who played the Pharaoh. He really could have been Elvis! He stayed in character and asked a girl to be his Teddy Bear. He sang another song Stone the Crows/King Of My Heart which also mentions other Elvis songs in a tongue in cheek way. A perfect number for the character and Andrew gave an absolutely fabulous performance.
What also makes this a fantastic show is the music. There are songs you will know such as Any Dream will do, Close Every door to me and Go Go Go Joseph, but there are also many songs performed in a different style. One more angel in Heaven is done in a country style and there were cowboy hats, a hoe-down and even a few cow-girls. It is also quite funny as they are trying to be sad but secretly are pleased that Joseph is gone. Those Canaan days is a Parisian style they are all in berets. There is a bike with onions on it and even an image of the Eiffel Tower in the background. It’s a million miles from Canaan but that’s what makes it funny. J’adore the French lyrics which make me feel I could almost speak French. Almost. Go Go Go Joseph is in full choir and pretty spectacular. Benjamin has his own Calypso which is always a vibrant number. And of course I have already mentioned Elvis as the Pharaoh and that is given an American twist with cheerleaders and American football outfits. The finale of this production felt modern and current with us all on our feet singing and dancing along. Some of the brothers come into the aisles to join us. In my opinion this show never dates and is always a crowd pleaser. And did I mention it has inflatable sheep?...Yes, inflatable furry sheep is the cherry on the top.
If you leave a show wanting to see it again and singing all the songs, you know it’s worth seeing. I’m gonna end on a song. Feel free to sing along. Sh na na Joseph you’re doing fine, go and see Joseph; you’ll have a good time.
Last night I had the pleasure of being chosen to review, on behalf of What’s Good To Do, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat produced by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber (which certainly had a new modern twist with no end of surprises involving Elvis, Country and Western to name a couple. I was fortunate to see the original musical in the West End back in the nineties when Philip Schofield appeared in it and loved it way back then. I couldn’t wait to see this new modern-day performance at my local theatre.
My guest and I was delighted with our seats and it appeared the opening night was almost sold out, hardly a spare seat in sight. The story is based on the story of Joseph from the Bible’s Book of Genesis and this Musical was simply brilliant. The music throughout the evening, all the singing retelling the biblical story of Joseph, his 11 brothers and his famous coat of many colours to real life had each member of the audience gripped to their seats.
I was astonished at how quickly the interval came around after Act One, which in my book is always a really good sign of a great evening. Act Two was just as good and some great favourite songs sung.
A big shout out to Jaymi Hensley, known to some from Union J, who played Joseph magnificently, a first class performance. He was a real superstar, such a great performance that had the whole audience transfixed the entire evening. Jaymi had such a powerful voice and sang and performed really well the entire evening. You would think someone was kidding you being told this was his first ever major musical role. Jaymi is a real natural performer that deserves huge credit for playing this role so incredibly well. The show was produced to such a high standard, I really did think I was in the West End.
A powerful story come to life. As well as Jaymi, Trina Hill the beautiful Narrator (who trained at Urdang Academy) was a real pleasure to watch, amongst all the other main performers, including Henry Metcalfe who played Jacob and all the other brothers too many to mention. All the brothers worked perfectly with each other acting out the story and all singing the lyrics well. Some great dancing too as well as super sets (no expense spared) and wonderful costumes, sound and lighting. Not forgetting the lovely young choir which enhanced the whole atmosphere.
There was a standing ovation at the end and most of the audience were up dancing including myself. All in all, a smashing evening which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Well done to all those involved, super production.
Highly recommended, I would definitely watch this again, no hesitation whatsoever. Most enjoyable family musical I’ve seen in a long time.
Joseph dream comes true for Chester performing arts students
as they prepare to perform at Storyhouse.
THE long-held dream of students at a Chester performing arts school has finally come true thanks to the staging of a much-loved musical at the city's main theatre.
For the past 23 years, Stagecoach Performing Arts School Chester has been providing the choir for Bill Kenwright's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat across the North West and North Wales at theatres, including Manchester Palace Theatre and Opera House and The Lowry, in more than 600 performances.
But they have never had the opportunity to perform the show in their home city - until now.
The choir for the show, which is made up of 64 children split into two teams, have worked with many Josephs over the last 23 years, including the current Joseph, Union J's Jaymi Hensley.
Children from the Chester stage school have also performed with Joe McElderry, Keith Jack, Lloyd Daniels and H from Steps.
With the hit show making its way to Chester as part of a UK-wide tour, the students of Stagecoach Chester were absolutely delighted to be invited to perform in the show at Storyhouse.
Lindsay Partington, principal of Stagecoach Chester, said: "The students have such an amazing time performing in 'Joseph' whichever theatre we are in but to be performing at Storyhouse is absolutely magical as they are performing to their local community at their local theatre'. Students from the Performing Arts School appeared on stage at Storyhouse for the very first time last year as part of the touring production of Evita.
To find out more about Stagecoach Performing Arts School Chester and the wide range of dance and drama activities on offer contact Stagecoach Performing Arts School, Chester on 01244 316187 or via email at contactchester@stagecoach.co.uk .
Full details are also available online at www.stagecoach.co.uk/chester
Joseph dream comes true for Chester performing arts students
as they prepare to perform at Storyhouse.
THE long-held dream of students at a Chester performing arts school has finally come true thanks to the staging of a much-loved musical at the city's main theatre.
For the past 23 years, Stagecoach Performing Arts School Chester has been providing the choir for Bill Kenwright's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat across the North West and North Wales at theatres, including Manchester Palace Theatre and Opera House and The Lowry, in more than 600 performances.
But they have never had the opportunity to perform the show in their home city - until now.
The choir for the show, which is made up of 64 children split into two teams, have worked with many Josephs over the last 23 years, including the current Joseph, Union J's Jaymi Hensley.
Children from the Chester stage school have also performed with Joe McElderry, Keith Jack, Lloyd Daniels and H from Steps.
With the hit show making its way to Chester as part of a UK-wide tour, the students of Stagecoach Chester were absolutely delighted to be invited to perform in the show at Storyhouse.
Lindsay Partington, principal of Stagecoach Chester, said: "The students have such an amazing time performing in 'Joseph' whichever theatre we are in but to be performing at Storyhouse is absolutely magical as they are performing to their local community at their local theatre'. Students from the Performing Arts School appeared on stage at Storyhouse for the very first time last year as part of the touring production of Evita.
To find out more about Stagecoach Performing Arts School Chester and the wide range of dance and drama activities on offer contact Stagecoach Performing Arts School, Chester on 01244 316187 or via email at contactchester@stagecoach.co.uk .
Full details are also available online at www.stagecoach.co.uk/chester
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat the musical that was written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber as the 60’s came to a close when they were in their early twenties, first performed in Edinburgh before it’s 1973 debut on the West End. Like fine wine it’s aged well and has become the musical of choice, both for theatre goers where it’s a must see extravaganza and performers on stage where names have been made, careers altered, chart topping hits and not forgetting we are now in the era of reality tv shows.
I first saw Joseph on the west end as I joined the queues eager to see Lee Mead following Any Dream Will Do the 2007 BBC reality show designed to choose the latest Joseph. I was keen to see how the touring version would compare after all regional theatres are often smaller, would the show be full of razzmatazz still? Honestly I need not have worried, it was a wonderful night full of show tunes, lights, typically British humour bringing to life the tale of Joseph from the Book of Genesis in The Bibles Old Testament.
If Fairy Powered Productions could sprinkle some of her magic dust and allow me a higher star rating then I would, I was beaming from ear to ear throughout. The wondrous applause throughout the entire performance highlighted the audience loved it just as much.
Like a mother with a family of squabbling children I found it impossible to choose my favourite character, yes we have our leading pair Trina Hill as Narrator, who brings experience along with compassion and warmth to the role. She is the perfect storyteller, vocally she was crystal clear, hitting those high notes. The joy of a smaller theatre meant I could see everything happening on stage from comedic sheep to Trina’s facial expressions. Jaymi Hensley is joining other prestigious names to play Joseph and his career, like that of Joseph, looks like it’s set to shine bright. Yes he may have come to the public’s attention as part of boy band Union J, who finished fourth on the X Factor in 2012. We are after all the generation of reality TV, that experience has done him no harm. He may still be honing his skills in theatre productions, but his voice is divine. He was cheeky when needed, sad and upset when called upon. Could go from quiet almost whispering to raising the rafters, quite easily he could have been singing to me only; the rest of the audience drifted away and my hairs stood on end. I needed no encouragement to get to my feet and applaud, I actually stayed on my feet and sang along for the ending medley.
The entire cast appeared to be enjoying the performance immensely. Henry Metcalfe as Jacob, Josephs beloved Father during Those Canaan Days is wonderful, Andrew Geater as Pharaoh an Elvisesque character bringing an ancient king to life as a modern day king. Then there’s the brothers themselves, the simple touches across culture from cowboys, to dancing cancan girls and jazz singers.
You may be aware of the story of Joseph already, the favourite son of Jacob who was hated by his jealous brothers. Sold as a slave, his golden coat of many colours (yes you’ll be happy to hear that song is included how could it not be) ripped to pieces and dipped in goats blood. He finally makes his fortune as a dream interpreter of Pharaoh and even saves his brothers from the famine that has hit the land so hard.
Of course you should go and see this Bill Kenwright Produced and Directed musical, I can’t think of a single reason why you shouldn’t. Special mention should be to Chester’s own Stagecoach School who provided the Joseph Choir they performed magnificently and like the rest of the cast were thoroughly enjoying themselves which meant we the audience were enjoying ourselves.
Long may Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat reign both in spirit and our hearts. Like Josephs coat at the very end may your day be filled with a multicoloured rainbow that shines as long as the music does.
The Storyhouse in Chester have done it again. They have managed to deliver yet another incredible show worthy of the West End in a city that until recently hadn’t had a theatre for years, yet is now becoming the place to be for some of the best touring shows across the country and this time it is the world renowned Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
When we first got invited over to the Storyhouse to review Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat I was so excited because this show was my very first experience of a musical when I was a child and it has stayed with me ever since. I remember it being such a treat to go to the theatre with my Mum and my Nana and probably an even bigger treat to be so close to Jason Donavon! So the thought of getting to see it again as an adult was truly exciting, especially as it coincided with our wedding anniversary, making it the perfect child free date night.
For those of you, who like me, have forgotten the main plot it’s about Joseph, his 11 brothers, their dad Jacob, some rather interesting dreams, and of course the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Despite forgetting the plot it turns out I never actually forgot the songs and when the classics like Any Dream will do filled the theatre I found myself singing along without missing a word and all the nostalgia from my childhood came rushing back.
Joseph is played by Union J’s Jaymi Hensley who was not put off by having incredible shoes (or coat) to fill following the likes of Jason Donavon and Philip Schofield and he more than proves he was the right person for the role, portraying Joseph in a modern and relatable way with a voice that will have your swooning every time he sings.
Alongside Joseph was an unexpected main character as unlike most musicals this one has a narrator, Trina Hill, who brings the whole performance together through songs. She literally sings everything from start to finish which is ridiculously impressive and makes the whole performance transition from one scene to the next seamlessly.
For me the star of the show was Henry Metcalfe who plays Jacob, Joseph’s dad. I don’t know how he did it but he had me believing that he believed he was genuinely Jacob, he was so realistic and not once did he look like he was acting just simply being. Every time he was on stage I was captivated by his performance and the grief he showed in one particular scene was palpable in the whole auditorium, just amazing.
Now obviously musicals are done and re done many times over and with each new tour come a few changes, the writers and directors way of putting their own stamp on things if you will, and this show is no different. With the biggest most noticeable change being to the pharaoh who has most definitely had a make over since the last time I watched this show. The pharaoh is played by Andrew Geater who we have been lucky enough to see before in Beauty and the Beast at St.Helens and who once again brought the character to life in a way that makes the audience fall in love with him, from his beautiful voice to his sometimes questionable dance moves he makes for a charming updated version of the pharaoh which will have you laughing in your seats.
The entire cast were phenomenal and the whole audience were engrossed from the start but I think everyone who watches this will agree that the Joseph choir, made up of children from the Stagecoach school in Chester did themselves proud. Not only did they deliver outstanding performances but unlike any show I have seen before the choir remained on stage for the entire performance and not once did I spot any moving, talking, twitching or anything that resembled anything less that pure professionalism which for school aged children I think is extremely impressive.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the Storyhouse in Chester is a show that must be watched to truly be appreciated, there are no words that can accurately portray who incredible it was but I think the standing ovation it received at the end followed by so much singing and dancing by the audience speaks volumes. It will be a show that will be talked about for many years to come.
Having seen the publicity photos of Bill Kenwright’s new touring production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, I was really excited to get to see the show at Storyhouse.
With several famous names including Jason Donovan and Philip Schofield having donned the famous technicolour coat, this production stars boy band Union J’s Jaymi Hensley as Joseph. From the moment he walked out on stage to the familiar strains of Any Dream Will Do, Jaymi proved that he is a worthy successor to any of those big name stars who have worn the famous coat before him.
Assured performance
Hensley well and truly shakes off his boyband image with an assured performance throughout, nailing all the well known songs in the show with ease. His voice is powerful and almost operatic in quality at times. I must admit to be pleasantly surprised at just how good he is. He has a confident manner throughout and you can hear every word when he sings, something of a rarity these days.
Jaymi certainly puts his own stamp on the famous role and his interpretation of the singalong favourites in the show. It is clear he has a bright future in musical theatre ahead of him.
The ensemble cast are all excellent and the tight harmonies produced by Joseph’s brothers are an absolute joy. Trina Hill as the Narrator holds the whole story together and proves what a fine voice she has, holding her own against the excellent live orchestra. Her rapport with the children’s choir is really lovely.
Proud parents
Talking of the children, I must give a very special shout out to the choir, made up of students from Stagecoach Performing Arts Chester, who did a fantastic job underpinning songs including Any Dream Will Do and Close Every Door To Me. I’m sure there will be many proud parents and family members in the audience during the run.
Children from Stagecoach Chester with the cast of Joseph Photo: Stagecoach
The production values of the show are everything you would expect from a Bill Kenwright production with a great set, effective lighting and as you would imagine, some very colourful costumes ranging from cowboy outfits to American Football-themed Egyptians and the famous coat itself. All very impressive for a touring production. There are also the usual fun elements to the set and props including a talking camel and inflatable sheep.
Stand out performances
One of the stand out performances of the night was undoubtedly Andrew Geater as the show’s lip curling, hip swivelling Elvis inspired Pharaoh, Andrew brought some nice comedy to the role and demonstrated what a great voice he has, surely a name to watch for the future, destined to go far, could become a star… (see what I did there?).
The show reaches its climax with a fast paced energetic performance of a medley of the hits from the show with the audience encouraged to join in, suddenly the whole theatrical experience takes on the feel of a stadium gig and Jaymi Hensley’s boyband experience comes into its own.
Standing ovation
The audience gave the cast, musicians and crew a well deserved standing ovation and were treated to a rousing encore of Any Dream Will Do. As the audience filed out of the auditorium many could be heard still singing and humming the song, even in the queue for the ticket machine in the adjacent car park, surely the sign of a good night had by all. We give Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat a rainbow coloured
