Bill Kenwright’s production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sparkling family musical is playing at Peterborough’s New Theatre right now, and I can’t recommend it highly enough!
Over the years, numerous Joseph’s have donned the loincloth – some great (Donny Osmond) and others not so much (H from Steps – just kidding, he was fab too!). In the latest retelling of the Biblical story about Joseph, Britain’s Got Talent 2019 finalist, Mark McMullan, fulfils his dream of playing the title character.
In the popular show, Joseph is the favourite amongst his siblings. This leads his eleven brothers to become insatiably jealous and therefore, they sell him into slavery.
After refusing the advances of his owner’s wife, Joseph is then sent to jail.
In the popular show, Joseph is the favourite amongst his siblings. This leads his eleven brothers to become insatiably jealous and therefore, they sell him into slavery.
After refusing the advances of his owner’s wife, Joseph is then sent to jail.
Before long, he quickly becomes popular due to his ability to interpret dreams and when Pharaoh is keen to discover the meaning of his own, a new-found relationship between them is formed.
This might just be enough for Joseph to turn his life around and maybe the lives of his brothers – if he can find it in him to forgive them.
It’s a story many of us are familiar with, but thanks to additional new choreography from Gary Lloyd (Thriller Live, Heathers), this is a version we’ve not quite seen before.
This is a brighter, funnier and much more family-friendly version. It took me a little while to get my head around spectacles such as a singing camel, but once I did – I was hooked.
McMullan is a phenomenal performer. On Britain’s Got Talent, he wowed the judges and brought thousands of viewers to tears with his emotional rendition of the Les Misérables song Bring Him Home.
I knew he could sing well, but I was still not expecting such a pitch perfect rendition of Close Every Door To Me – which gave me goosebumps and rightfully received an extended applause.
The musical features all the other unforgettable songs we know and love including Go, Go, Go Joseph, Any Dream Will Do, Jacob and Sons and more.
The show has only a few lines of spoken dialogue and is almost entirely sung, which won’t be for everybody so be warned. Trina Hill (the Narrator) and Andrew Geater (Pharaoh) were also phenomenal singers – but honestly, every person on that stage sang beautifully (including the adorable local children that featured throughout).
I’ve caught almost every show that the New Theatre has put on so far and I can’t remember an audience responding as well as they did during this particular show. During the big finale, almost everybody was on their feet dancing and singing along.
My first review of 2020 was at possibly my favourite theatre in the area, the Aylesbury Waterside. Easy to get to and always plentiful parking in the adjacent carpark, we battled the elements last night to get to the show for its 7.30pm start. There were some very young audience members out in force tonight, once I had watched the show I understood why.
Bill Kenwright’s production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is most certainly a musical that appeals to all ages, what an amazingly colourful, energetic spectacle. There’s something for everything, lots of giggles along the way, starting with the blow-up sheep!
I don’t know why this is my first ever visit to see this particular show, where have I been? This has to be one of the very best musicals around and I have definitely seen quite a few. Mark McMullan (Britain’s Got Talent), wow, wow, wow! What an awesome voice, he’s one to watch for sure, I am positive this young man will go very far, along with Alexandra Doar, whose voice was a constant throughout the show. Both making their professional debuts, what fantastic starts to their careers.
Where do I start, I don’t like to spoil stories, but what I will tell you is that there are a variety of musical styles jammed packed into this modern take on a biblical tale. I couldn’t keep up, at one point I thought Johnny Cash himself would appear. There was Country, there was Carnival, French Cafe Style, Sister Act style choir, to name but a few, when the Pharaoh appeared and it was ‘The King’ himself, well my night was complete, Elvis was in the building. Henry Lawes, you nearly stole the show, tip top performance, I absolutely loved him.
So if you thought Joseph was some boring Egyptian biblical tale about Joseph, his eleven brothers and a coat of many colours, you couldn’t be more wrong. Of course, Any Dream Will Do bought the house down, quite rightly so. You could hear a pin drop, outstanding vocals from your man, just outstanding. I honestly had the best night, the brothers were all on point and their characters shone through, their dancing was simply fab. All the Costumes, the lights, the children’s choir, I can’t recommend you go see this production enough. The Joseph Megamix finale itself is worth the ticket price alone., Elvis and Joseph in the House. This show won my heart from the opening number, loved it. Astonishingly awesomely amazing it’s a 5-star rating from me.
With its eclectic mishmash of musical genre parodies it shouldn’t work, but Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which opened at the New Theatre in Peterborough on Tuesday, remains an incredibly uplifting and entertaining two hours of musical theatre.
From the Country and Western feel of One More Angel in Heaven to the Parisian chanson delivery of Those Canaan Days - with great harmonies - and the catchy Benjamin Calypso - it is a non-stop musical treat.
Mark McMullan - from Britain’s Got Talent fame- has some big shoes to fill stepping into the lead role but looked an absolute natural.
The voice that served him so well on the TV talent show was outstanding - particularly Close Every Door which rightly got a noisy ovation - to the song that got everyone in celebratory mood, Any Dream Will Do.
There’s a happy ending, of course there is, and the iconic unveiling of the coat of many colours. And as if that isn’t enough, there is an incredibly cheesy musical finale that had everyone on their feet for a well-deserved standing ovation.
Joseph brings his Technicolour Coat to Peterborough
Yesterday, Liam and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary. We weren’t going to be doing anything but then I was offered tickets to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat at the New Theatre. I’ve known all the songs since primary school – singing Any Dream Will Do in assemblies and overemphasising that ‘aahh aahh’ bits and swaying with my friends – but I’d never seen the show. We saw the Lion King on our wedding night in London so seeing another show on our anniversary was a perfect way to celebrate and we’re thinking of making it an annual thing.
We recently visited the New Theatre, situated on Broadway, Peterborough, when we went along to see The Wizard of Oz last month. This time we were sat in a different area so had a different but equally good view of the show.
Mark McMullan had big shoes to fill stepping into a role previously portrayed by Jason Donavon and Phillip Schofield but the former ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ finalist (who won the BGT viewers hearts with a song dedicated to his brother Declan) certainly didn’t hold back. His absolutely superb voice and acting were astounding. He blew me away.
The other 11 brothers were played by a wonderful cast that was clearly enjoying the show as much as the audience. Their enthusiasm was contagious and every single member of the cast from the brothers to Jacob, to the narrator, Joseph the choir and everyone in between, was fully deserving of the standing ovation. The entire audience was up on their feet at the end, singing and clapping along. The atmosphere was electric!
The Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical comprises of a complete mishmash of musical genres, bright colours and clever lighting and even an Elvis Pharoah, it was totally not what I expected it to be – but I loved EVERY second of it!
I've not seen Britain's Got Talent, but judging by the performance of 2019 runner-up Mark McMullan, it certainly does what it says on the tin.
The Northern Irish singer was superb throughout in this Bill Kenwright production of the famous Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber comedy musical. His vocal range really is amazing and he led from the front during a superb show on Friday evening.
And it was great to see the theatre full again as the public of Peterborough and the surrounding area supports its new incarnation. I've been lucky enough to see Martin Shaw in Gaslight, Susan Penhaligon in Mousetrap, Jorgie Porter in Fame and Katya Jones in The Wizard of Oz, and with shows such as Cabaret, Billionaire Boy, Footloose and The Commitments coming up, the quality shows no sign of stopping.
Anyway, back to the show. Stars such as Jason Donovan, David Cassidy and Donny Osmond have previously taken the star role, which is all singing and dancing – there's hardly any spoken dialogue in this musical – but I doubt any of them could out-sing McMullan.
Retelling the Biblical story of Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many colours, McMullan shines as we follow his story from a young dreamer, his father's favourite of his 12 sons, to the top of Egyptian high society, the desperation of prison and then to the Pharaoh's number two before his triumphant homecoming.
The songs are superb, with the infectious Any Dream Will Do the highlight, but others such as One More Angel in Heaven, Close Every Door To Me and the Joseph Megamix also staying in your head for days.
And it's not just McMullan who shines. Narrator Alexandra Doar is pretty much note perfect too, Henry Metcalfe is suitably authoritative as Joseph's dad Jacob and Henry Lawes was superb as the Pharaoh, played as Elvis Presley, of course.
The singing and dancing from the other brothers and the handmaidens was great too but special mention must be made of Amber Kennedy who absolutely owned the role of the promiscuous Mrs Potiphar.
The whole show was a dazzling success... as is becoming the norm at the New Theatre.
Since its West End premiere in 1973 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has enjoyed unparalleled success. The show is currently in the throes of a resurgence with Bill Kenwright and Really Useful Group’s UK tour delighting audiences across the country. The tour enters 2020 with a refreshed cast led by 2019 Britain’s Got Talent Finalist Mark McMullan. McMullan is perhaps best remembered for his emotional performance of Les Misérables‘ Bring Him Home which earned him a place in the final.
Joseph, a sung-through musical with music and lyrics by creative legends Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, is based on the ‘coat of many colours’ story from the Bible’s book of Genesis. Arrogant in the knowledge he is the favourite of his father’s 12 sons, Joseph’s brothers’ jealousy is amplified when Jacob presents his son with the Technicolor Dreamcoat. Livid at the blatant favouritism, the brothers conspire to kill Joseph, before deciding to cash in, selling him into slavery. Eventually, Joseph finds himself in Egypt and right-hand man to the Pharaoh.
Joseph is a classic, family-friendly musical; its familiarity is like an old friend and is partly why the show continues to endure. However, despite Gary Lloyd’s revamped choreography, this production is a carbon copy of those that came before it, which certainly earlier in the tour was largely to its detriment. However, the turn of the refreshed cast has served to elevate the energy and sparkle of the production to new levels.
The original gripes remain and the main issue with this production is the number of fillers used as a ruse to pad out the running time of the show. We begin with a long instrumental overture, which drags despite showcasing the talent of the accomplished orchestra led by Mike Steel. The second act opens with a similar theme with the show then concluding with the Joseph Megamix Reprises. That said, with the energy in the room both on stage and in the auditorium the pounding Megamix truly raises the roof. With the format and formula of Joseph tried, tested and loved by so many it is hard to be critical, yet the instrumental fillers do begin to feel somewhat lengthy and a touch unnecessary.
Mark McMullan was born for the role of Joseph, picking up the mantle from Union J’s Jaymi Hensley, he oozes class and charm from the moment he steps into the iconic coat. He is a wonderfully authoritative yet endearing Joseph, his vocals are like caramel and at times are operatic with his solo of Close Every Door spine-tingly beautiful. Who needs chocolate when you can listen to McMullan’s vocals, he truly is inspired casting. He is complemented in droves by Alexandra Doar as the Narrator who herself has an incredibly rich voice. The Narrator is a challenging role, but Doar confidently and successfully manages to hang the narrative together whilst delivering her numbers with poise and assurance.
Joseph veteran Henry Metcalfe continues in the dual role of Jacob / Potiphar and shines in both. It’s easy to see that this role is a complete joy for him, and this translates to his performance. The collective of brothers is undeniably strong with Bradley Judge particularly standing out as Dan. It’s the numbers where the brothers feature that the slick new choreography comes into its own.
Alfie Parker and Robert Bardsley provide solid turns in their roles of the Baker and the Butler, Parker, in particular, a delight showcasing a hilarious northern accent as he recounts his dream. Henry Lawes elicits some of the biggest cheers of the night thanks to his lively portrayal of the animated Pharaoh struggling to make sense of his confusing dreams. Channeling his inner Elvis, Lawes delivers the Pharaoh’s signature number Song of the King with infectious enthusiasm, incredible energy, and enviable vocals.
Although a familiar format, this production of Joseph, thanks in large to the talented and energetic new cast, still packs a punch with its iconic score and the beautifully bright stage design by Sean Cavanagh, complemented by clever lighting from Nick Richings. The large and expansive stage of the Waterside really suits the production to a tee and what the show lacks in substance it makes up for in fun, frolics, and exuberance. It is also a tremendous opportunity to introduce younger audiences to the theatre.
Go, go go Joseph, you know what they say, go go go Joseph you’ll make it to Waterside in Aylesbury someday. Well that someday is this week as Joseph receives a very warm welcome from its audience. It’s an iconic piece of theatre with exceptional songs by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. I was recently asked how often I have seen it and the truth is I have lost count but it is in my top five of most seen shows. It is a joy to watch and this fresh cast have so much energy and enthusiasm; you know you are guaranteed a good time.
Way way back, many centuries ago. Not long after the bible began. I am not the narrator, but I will tell you a brief outline of the story, although I’d much 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 but at its heart is a story about believing in yourself, love and forgiveness.
Joseph is played by Mark McMullan who was a finalist on Britain’s Got Talent. The part of Joseph has big shoes to fill with the likes of Philip Schofield, Joe McElderry, Lee Mead and Jason Donovan, who have all previously undertaken the role. However, Mark stands strong against his previous peers is absolutely outstanding in his portrayal of Joseph. Mark holds the audience in the palm of his hands and is funny and sincere in the role. Mark’s voice is exceptional, and 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 that part is played by Alexandra Doar. Her expression in her voice gives weight to the story she is telling. She has a lovely smile and she delivers so well you really feels she is telling us a story worth hearing. Of course Jacob has another eleven sons which all gave brilliant performances. I do have to give a special mention to Henry Lawes who played the Pharaoh. He really could have been Elvis! He sang another song King Of My Heart which also mentions other Elvis songs in a tongue in cheek way. I also loved the Butler (Robert Bardsley) and Baker (Alfie Parker) roles. Perfectly executed. Opps, perhaps I had better change that word for the (soon to be executed) Baker who did his role in a dead pan northern accent which is perfect. Henry Metcalfe plays both Jacob and Potiphar and is a true veteran actor. He is believable in the role and instantly likeable. A great performance.
The real star of the 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 was performed by Lovonne Zeus Richards who plays Zebulan is fabulous at delivering this 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. One held my hand and sung with me. Its moments like this that stay in the audience’s memory long after the show has finished. In my opinion this show is fun, family friendly and always leaves you feeling good singing the songs on your way home. Sh na na Joseph you’re doing fine, go and see Joseph; you’ll have a good time.
Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat burst on to the stage of Aylesbury Waterside Theatre last night and what an explosion of colour and joy it was! Seeking inspiration from the least likely of places for a musical, Joseph tells the old testament story of Joseph, son of Jacob, and brother to eleven siblings burning with jealousy. It is most definitely a story with a moral, a story of brotherhood, jealousy, forgiveness and redemption, all packaged in the most comic, glitzy yet heart-warming way.
The show had every you could want as a theatre goer from the catchy Rice and Webber songs executed perfectly by the lead singers to the adorable yet without doubt highly professional Joseph Choir provided by the Peploe-Williams Academy of Theatre and Performing arts. Equally enjoyable were, for the dance lovers in the audience, some wonderful dance breaks choreographed by Henry Metcalfe and Gary Lloyd.
The whole show is colourful, vibrant and the audience were beaming, clapping and laughing throughout. But the most brilliant moment of the show, when the whole audience were left silenced, was undoubtedly Mark McMullan as Joseph’s astounding solo rendition of “Close Every Door” while in a jail cell. The emotional depth that is reached during that song as well as the sheer power of McMullan’s voice really does raise the whole calibre of the show. No wonder he was a Britain’s Got Talent finalist! Honestly, your ticket is worth it only for these few minutes!
At times the musical can feel a bit erratic and somewhat perplexing, such as when the brothers break out in to a Calypso number with Samba dancers in the background which somewhat distracts from the emotions that one would expect to feel for brother Benjamin who has been framed for theft. Nevertheless, this can be forgiven as what this production of Joseph does so well is transport the audience; you are transported in to a world of magical theatre, transported in to a world where dreaming is possible and I was certainly transported to my memory of my very first year 6 production of Joseph when I fell in love with musicals.
So if you are a dreamer and want to be transported to an evening of musical bliss, you must go go go get a ticket for Joseph!
Back in the mists of time – well 1968 – before Evita and before Jesus Christ Superstar, a young and ambitious pair of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice wrote and presented a little musical show. Since then, the show has become a firm favourite, with audiences world-wide and especially with Schools and amateur groups with over 20,000 of them staging productions. The show is, of course Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and I caught the latest touring production during its visit to the New Wimbledon Theatre.
Now, according to the narrator (Alexandra Doar), way, way back many centuries ago, not long after the bible began, and old man by the name of Jacob (Henry Metcalfe) had a large family of wives and sons. In fact, he had 12 sons – Reuben (Paul Brangan), Simeon (Robert Bardsley), Levi (Tom Bainbridge), Naphtali (Alec Porter), Issachar (Alfie Parker), Asher (Henry Lawes), Dan (Bradley Judge), Zebulun (Lovonne Zeus Richards), Gad (Nathan Zach Johnson), Benjamin (George Knapper), Judah (Tyler Ephraim) and Joseph (Mark McMullan).
Unfortunately, whilst Jacob may have been wise in many ways, he made the big mistake of having a favourite amongst his children. That child was his youngest, Joseph, and Jacob made a real fuss over him, which rather antagonised his brothers. The final straw occurred when Jacob designed a wonderful multi-coloured coat for Joseph, who strutted about a bit in it. Joseph also annoyed his siblings because he talked about the various dreams he had in which he seemed to be lording it over the rest of the family. The brothers finally decide they have had enough and its time for Joseph to go. However, whilst getting rid of Joseph proves easy for the devious brothers, things don’t turn out exactly as they hoped, and Joseph not only survives his brother’s treatment but ends up having a fabulous adventure as he goes through his life separated from the father that loves him.
I’ve seen quite a few versions of Joseph over the years – both amateur and professional – and, for me there are three elements that have to be perfect for the show to work. The first is the Narrator. They set the tone and pace of the show and, despite the actor playing Joseph usually getting top billing, the Narrator carries a lot of the show on their shoulders. Alexandra Doar was just right in the role. From the start as she walked onto the stage with a sprog in each hand, Alexandra put on a brilliant performance. He second test is the song ‘Close Every Door to Me’. Basically, for this I need to be distracted from the loin cloth clad young man and listening to the words with a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye feeling the utter despair in Joseph’s life at that point. Mark McMullan really delivered on my wishes for the song, and with every other. Finally, the Pharaoh has to be ancient Elvis personified and boy, did Henry Laws fill the bill. For an hour or so, the King of Rock and Roll was alive and well and camping it up in ancient Egypt. So, three tests passed with flying colours for me, but what about someone that hadn’t seen the show before?
Well, my friend Lynne loved every moment of the show. From – to my mind rather overlong overture – right through the ‘Joseph Megamix’ at the end, Lynne had a fabulous time and going by the reaction of the rest of the audience at the end, so did everyone else.
Having wowed the nation in last year's Britain's Got Talent - singer Mark McMullan is now starring in 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat'.
Mark dedicated his first audition on the show to his brother, who suffered a cardiac arrest at the age of nineteen which left him with long-term brain damage - and he now lives with Locked-in Syndrome.
Mark went on to make it to the final of the show - and has now landed the role of Joseph - which has just arrived in London for a run at the New Wimbledon Theatre, and Mark told Alicia more.
I’ve personally been reviewing Bill Kenwright’s iconic touring production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for almost ten years, during which time I don’t think the show has been off the road. I wonder what the young teenage Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice would have thought of their new fifteen-minute ‘school cantata’ – over fifty years ago – if they’d had a vision of things to come back in 1968. I very much doubt if this production’s director/producer, Mr Kenwright, could have seen such a long shelf-life either when he worked on a new production forty years ago. It is, quite simply, the longest running touring musical of all time!
The show is still famously short and relies on a multitude of clever reprises to stretch it out over a couple of hours. Not that the sellout audiences are complaining. From the drawn-out initial overture to the final (and original) ‘megamix’, including possibly four or five versions of Any Dream Will Do, the catchy numbers which borrow their style from every musical genre out there have paved the way for Lloyd Webber and Rice to rule Theatreland.
Incredibly, Kenwright’s original choreographer, Henry Metcalfe, is still with the production in the role of Jacob (doubling as Potiphar), alongside a myriad of stars who have donned the famous, biblical ‘Dreamcoat’ over the years. Passing through New Wimbledon Theatre this week it falls to BGT finalist, Mark McMullan, to Close Every Door and wow the UK’s audiences. To be honest, the show is so slickly run now, it would be fairly difficult to fail. However, this guy has quite a set of pipes on him and he takes on some of musical theatre’s most-popular numbers in spectacular style.
Gary Lloyd’s additional choreography has kept the show sharp, and Sean Cavanagh’s classic design still affords a group of children (the Joseph Choir) a priceless opportunity to feature onstage throughout in a full-on professional touring production. They even open act two with, yes you’ve guessed it, more reprises. Luckily, with tunes this catchy, reprises are welcomed time and time again.
Alexandra Doar makes an excellent professional debut as Narrator and Henry Lawes, who only graduated in 2018, goes some way to stealing the show as Pharaoh (even doubling as one of Joseph’s brothers, Asher). It’s easy to see how much Bill Kenwright loves Elvis as this King of Egypt could be straight out of Las Vegas. There’s even an additional song given to the pelvis-gyrating, god-like Phoraoh, King of My Heart, during which a multitude of Elvis hits are reeled out.
It’s all going on in SW19 this week and you don’t need to believe in (or have even read) the Bible to enjoy this religious tale from the Old Testament. And as long as people keep lapping up classic numbers such as Go, Go, Go, Joseph; Jacob and Sons; One More Angel in Heaven; Close Every Door; Song of the King; Those Canaan Days; Any Dream Will Do; and Banjamin Calypso… this show will probably tour forever!
Bill Kenwright’s production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sparkling family musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, has been brought to life in a colourful explosion at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre and we were lucky enough to be there on opening night.
Britain’s Got Talent 2019 finalist, Mark McMullan, has taken on the lead role as Joseph and blew the audience away with his pitch-perfect and emotive performance. Charlotte-Kate Warren played the Narrator and gave an equally powerful performance – some of the notes she has to hit are no mean feat, and she sang them with ease.
The supporting cast were also a joy to watch and listen to. Yet more amazing vocals, a sprinkling of humour, a riot of colour, an ensemble of adorably talented children and dancing in the aisles at the end of the show – what more could you want?!
We think this rendition of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the perfect tonic for blasting away the last of the January blues, but if you want tickets you’ll have to be quick – it’s only on until Saturday. Go, Go, Go!
Wow...What a show this was! Throw back the curtain to an amazing cast, costumes and stage presentation. This musical gave me so many different emotions like an emotional rollercoaster. The amount of times I had goose bumps from the incredibly talented singers included in the show, I was amazed by all the actors and actresses brilliant talents. Joseph & The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat was my first musical and wow was I not expecting such a world wind of emotions throughout. Let me take you on a colourful ride through the show...
Joseph was played by Mark McMullan, otherwise know as one of the finalists on the recent show Britain's Got Talent, and my gosh does this man have some lungs inside of him! His voice gave me such goose bumps, just incredible this mans voice. The Narrator who was actually the understudy of the night was a lovely blonde haired lady who I wish I remembered her name to credit how beautiful her voice was, sent shivers down my spine. You know the feeling when your so overwhelmed when hearing something so amazing, that's what I felt hearing her voice, absolutely incredible.
Of course every older musical is told with a modern twist, but in this case, a bit of Elvis Presley was involved. This mans voice was PERFECTLY like Elvis'! He was a brilliant actor and singer for this show, so whoever did the casting did an amazing job of finding such a talented singer, as well as all the cast. They were all absolutely incredible.
Joseph & The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is being shown at the Belgrade until Saturday 1st February, so get yourself some tickets if you like musicals or just want to try something different, you'll leave the show singing 'throwback the curtain' as I cannot get that song out my head for the life of me now!
More than 50 years after Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice gave life to it, this biblical story (turned musical comedy) is still one of the most colourful, bright and uplifting productions to grace our country’s stages. The script retells and elaborates on the ‘coat of many colours’ story of Joseph from the Bible’s Book of Genesis and the Bible never looked so good!
You will be blown away by the dazzling array of talent showcased by the cast in this exuberant musical. Alexandra Doar opens the show phenomenally in her professional debut as Narrator. Her voice is flawless and her omnipresence allows the scenes to transition effortlessly. This, coupled with the natural stage presence, embodiment of character and strength of voice of Mark McMullan (who plays Joseph) only begins to describe the level of ability of this group of actors. Last, but certainly not least, the comedic value of ‘the brothers’ will have you in fits of giggles as they interact with each other and each of them seem masters in the trio of skills of acting, singing and dancing.
Intricate stage design, beautiful costumes and perfectly timed lighting effects elevate the production to advanced heights. The audience is transported from Israel to Egypt with pop-up, life-size sheep, recreations of a Sphinx and Egyptian tapestry. The costumes are fabulous, in particular, the transformation of Joseph’s ‘coat of many colours’ from start to finish. The wardrobe team have obviously taken great care in analysing how the coats work on the stage and their use of colour has a huge impact in the final scenes. Similarly, the lighting team have ensured that their lighting changes match seamlessly with the words spoken by the characters. In the song ‘Joseph’s Coat’ the back of the stage changes colour as the colours are listed in the song which has a striking overall effect.
This production will have you singing along almost immediately and will leave you smiling ear to ear. ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ is a timeless classic and this troupe certainly do it justice.
THE Biblical tale of a dreamer called Joseph and his multi-coloured coat started out as a 15-minute school cantata, before becoming a smash hit musical.
And despite its runaway success, much-loved show Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat retains the simple charm of a school production. There are cuddly toy sheep, comedy camel masks, a simple set comprising two flights of steps, and a children’s chorus in Joseph T-shirts.
Effective lighting shifts scenes from Jacob’s sun-kissed Canaan cornfields to an Egyptian king’s residence.
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s witty re-working of the story of Joseph, favoured by his father and envied by his 11 brothers, who leave him to the mercy of slave traders, is a perennial favourite at the Alhambra, and a packed audience welcomed it back with open arms this week.
Read our interview with Mark McMullan: https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/18184682.singing-les-mis-classic-brothers-hospital-bed-went-viral/
The show raced along to a varied score covering country, jazz, Parisian torch song, calypso, rock ‘n’ roll and the inevitable Joseph mega-mix that had a delighted audience on its feet. Highlights included the brothers dressed as cowboys, crooning One More Angel in Heaven to trick their father into thinking that his beloved Joseph is dead, and Pharoah’s Story, with a terrific hip-swivelling Henry Lawes as the Vegas Elvis Egyptian king, flanked by American football hunks and swooning cheerleaders.
Mark McMullan, who captured hearts with his powerful voice on last year’s Britain’s Got Talent, was excellent as Joseph, blending the cheeky charm of a dreamer with the vulnerability of a boy who finds himself a long way from home. His moving performances of Close Every Door and Any Dream Will Do were rousing showstoppers. Anyone partial to shedding a tear or two at the musicals is advised to take tissues - Joseph’s return to the fold and his father, Jacob, movingly played by Henry Metcalfe, is quite a moment, and had a woman in the seat next to me sobbing her heart out.
Holding the show together is the Narrator, and Alexandra Doar shone brightly in this role, with a fabulous voice. She’s a big talent to watch.
Aforementioned show veteran Henry Metcalfe was impressive as both Jacob and powerful Potiphar, and the 11 brothers, each with their own star turn, were a hoot. Great performances too from Amber Kennedy, Charlotte-Kate Warren and Gemma Pipe as the Handmaidens. And special mention to the lovely Joseph choir - Team Baker, from Young Showstoppers in Heckmondwike.
Rice & Webber’s feel-good Biblical classic is a musical given the magic Kenwright touch to be the brilliant blockbuster it is so famous for. The show benefits from an outstanding performance by Mark McMullan who is a revelation as Joseph. McMullan may be known to you as a recent finalist on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent and succeeds both as an actor and vocalist.
Also the ensemble give their all in support with such rousing numbers as Poor, Poor, Joseph and One More Angel in Heaven. The choreography is based on Henry Metcalfe’s original but given a new style by Gary Lloyd. And Sean Cavanagh’s design is simply to die for. His costumes include a Caribbean and French flavour which give an ironic twist to the proceedings.
MD Mike Steel keeps the hit songs coming and provides excellent backing to the scenes too. You will be certain to have earworms galore after some of these catchy tunes, some of the best musical songs in Webber’s catalogue. Rice’s lyrics, of course, progress the narrative with many cheeky rhyming couplets and innuendoes.
The Alhambra Theatre is always a pleasure to attend and when the finale comes has almost the entire audience on its feet and clapping along. The dreamcoat becomes a huge parachute which floods the stage with colour. McMullan is really in his element here obviously overjoyed by the Bradford reception to this fabulous show.
Britain’s Got Talent finalist Mark McMullan heads the cast as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat returns to Sunderland during the school half term holidays. Backed with a talented ensemble, the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical entertained the Empire audience.
As the venue filled up, there was a noticeable number of younger people in the audience. It was really pleasing to see kids taking advantage of it not being a school night. Now this is important for theatre. Tonight may possibly be the first show, that’s not a panto, for some of these families and if theatre is to survive then it has to spread its appeal for the other 11 months of the year. Family theatre isn’t just about panto and tonight they were in for a treat and hopefully they’ll be back soon.
Joseph is very family friendly production running in at 2 hours, including interval, at a good pace – it is unlikely to upset the little ones or lose their attention. Even the scene when a goat is used to cover Josephs coat in blood is handled in an almost comic way using a wooden goat.
This success of each production hangs on three main characters. The different actors covering the roles of Joseph, Narrator and the Pharaoh do change the feel each time it rolls into town. Tonight’s cast worked well together. Alexandra Doar, making her professional debut, starts proceedings in a confident way. This show is sung through – with very little dialogue between the songs. Alexandra thus has to set the show’s stall out whilst moving around the set and singing the story. That might sound easy, but she also has to perform with a large cast of children and some, occasionally misbehaving, inflatable sheep.
Of course, Joseph is a key role too. Now, as regular readers will be aware, we are not big viewers of television and hence we are often witnessing our first performance of anyone who made their name of the small box. Mark McMullan has made a really good first impression. He has a really good voice, which made his rendition of Any Dream Will Do a highlight. He was able to take ownership of these familiar songs and he is a great entertainer.
The third noticeable key character makes his appearance in Act 2. Given the reaction of the audience around us, the introduction of the Pharaoh was not what they expected. Even when a show has been doing the rounds, in some form or other, for over 50 years, it will always be someone’s first time. Henry Lawes lapped up the opportunity to take centre stage. There is some natural humour from the role which helps deliver the biblical tale. Funnily enough though, my son couldn’t make out what the dream was as the Elvis impression made it hard for him to follow.
A major element of the show comprises of an ensemble of adult actors – appearing as Joseph’s 11 brothers and as handmaidens amongst others, and a large choir of children. Two teams of 32 young people, from the Northern Star Theatre Arts, sit on the stairs at the sides of the stage providing backing for the vocal duties of the adults. They were perfectly still between songs and caused much less trouble than those inflatable sheep.
The adult members of the ensemble have their work cut out as they perform numerous costume changes as the action moves around.
The lighting design from Nick Richings was interesting as it was toggling between a focus on the action at the front and the much larger group across the stage. Dan Samson’s sound ensured we could all hear even the quietest song.
This is a great feel good musical. A real half term treat.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat opened to fanfare at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre on Tuesday night.
It is hard to believe that this popular family musical has been delighting audiences for 50 years. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was the first of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musicals to be performed publicly.
Seen by an estimated 26 million people, and counting, Joseph continues to enthral audiences around the world.
And it may have graced many a stage in its long run, but a packed out audience at the Grand Theatre were overjoyed to see it return to the venue once again.
Produced by Bill Kenwright, the much-loved musical by Rice and Lloyd Webber, retells the biblical story of Joseph, his 11 brothers and the famous coat of many colours.
The show is packed with unforgettable songs including Any Dream Will Do, Go, Go, Go Joseph, and Close Every Door to Me.
Following in the footsteps of names like Jason Donovan, Phillip Schofield and Donny Osmond, taking on the role of Joseph in the UK tour is Britain’s Got Talent finalist Mark McMullan in his professional debut.
He is just perfect for the role and his versatile ability was showcased in the range of songs. I particularly enjoyed his take on power ballad Close Every Door to Me.
Also making her professional debut on stage was Alexandra Doar in the role of the Narrator. A challenging role, but one she took in her stride for a first professional debut. Her beautiful voice took the audience through the story of Joseph and his 11 brothers.
The 11 brothers were cast perfectly - and a number of them taking on other roles, including the Elvis-impersonating Pharaoh who steals the show with the Song of the Pharaoh.
A big shout out to the adorable Joseph Choir from the Theatre Workshop who made the audience smile every time they appeared.
Within a few hours, we’d travelled from Canaan to Egypt, the desert, to Potifah’s home, on to the cells and ending up in Pharaoh's palace.
While the finale had the audience standing in their seats, clapping along and singing the lyrics back to the cast. And of course, the star of the show, that amazing technicolour dreamcoat, is a sight to be seen.
By the end of the performance, everyone, including myself, left the theatre with a big smile and humming along to those catchy tunes well into the following day.
A must-see musical for all the family and one that will never fail to make you smile.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is at Wolverhampton Grand until 29th February and I was there for last night’s press performance.
It’s no secret that Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is one of my favourite musicals. I’m a huge fan of anything by Lloyd Webber but after last night’s performance. I felt this one should be known as Joseph and the Amazing Dream Cast. What a spectacular performance by the very best cast I’ve ever had the fortune to enjoy. Last night was mind-blowingly spectacular!
Based on The Bible story of Joseph, favourite son of Jacob. Joseph gets a multicoloured coat, his brothers get jealous, Joseph gets sold into slavery where he ends up working for the pharaoh and Joseph ultimately ends up saving Egypt from famine and is the hero of the piece.
With Mark McMullan perfectly cast in the role of Joseph the audience gets to really appreciate his very fine singing voice. Mark McMullan may well be the very best Joseph I have ever seen. His voice really is a joy, powerful, passionate and perfect. He also has a superb torso. When he sang Close Every Door To Me, I had shivers go down my spine.
Alexandra Doar as the narrator is, without doubt, the best narrator I have heard, her voice is pure and clean and she too had the passion that her role needs. I loved every second that Alexandra Doar was singing, she is a treat for the ears.
Henry Metcalfe reprises the role of Jacob/Potiphar and still every bit as entertaining. My favourite Jacob of all the Jacobs I have seen on stage.
Henry Lawes is playing both roles of Pharaoh/Asher and he nailed it with all the energy he bought to his character. Again a superb singing voice and he really bought the pharaoh to life. The best pharaoh I have ever seen.
With original choreography by Henry Metcalf and additional choreography by Gary Lloyd, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is as vibrant and energetic as it could ever be. This uplifting show is a pleasure from start to finish.
The set is barely there, the choir of schoolchildren sit on either side of the stage, a lot of the action takes place on the steps and backdrops and props are all very cartoon-like, but that’s the charm of this show. Bright and breezy and it never takes itself too seriously, pure entertainment.
As always it’s really hard not to sing along, especially with such great songs as Any Dream Will Do, One More Angel in Heaven and Benjamin Calypso. So I really appreciated the final few minutes when a few songs were reprised and the audience was encouraged to sing and clap along. It might have been snowing heavily whilst I was inside, but when I left I had a lovely warm feeling inside of me that no amount of snow could take away.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I have seen this show on stage, but this is undoubtedly the best version I have seen. Go go joe and the dream cast.
It’s been a staple of the UK touring scene for years but with regular recasts and tweaks to the production, Bill Kenright keeps audiences coming back again and again to this retro classic. Currently, Mark McMullan from Britain’s Got Talent makes his professional theatre debut and dons the famous coat.
McMullan’s soft operatic voice sends goosebumps rippling as he belts out Close Every Door. This may be his debut but he aces the role from start to finish full of charm and a commanding voice.
Giving new talent a chance to shine is what Kenwright seems to focus on with the casting in this current tour. Alexandra Doar also makes her professional debut as the Narrator. Doar is equally as talented as McMullan vocally and has a natural sincere aura around her which makes her a sweet and charming narrator.
Henry Lawes takes on the role of Pharoh and my, does he command the stage. Lawes plays up to the role and takes inspiration from Elvis’ showmanship. The audience laps up the nods to the King of Rock and Roll as his part of the show accelerates the energy of the production to a new level.
Kenwright keeps the bare bones of the production simple, complete with a local choir sitting on staircases at the side of the stage, just as they may do if it was a school production. It’s nods like this, as well as props such as a talking camel and a 2D cut out of a thought bubble that sets the production’s tone to one that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Complete with a whole host of different music genres and a plot line that isn’t challenging to understand, Joseph‘s main aim is to entertain and Kenwright does well to ham up the elements that he can to bring a light heart to the piece. It looks like the cast’s having a ball throughout and it’s that infectious feel good feeling that you will take with you as leave. This great piece of accessible theatre that is great for families and a fun introduction to musical theatre.
On a wet, windy, wintry Wolverhampton midweek evening, there has to be a very good reason to go out. Fortunately, this production of Joseph provides just that reason.
Its performed inception dates back to 1968, but debuted in its full format in 1974, almost half a century ago. It is broadly contemporaneous with Jesus Christ Superstar, first staged in 1971, with which it shares numerous musical motifs. But the latter is strictly rock, while Joseph is pop, with a bit of calypso, French balladry, charleston, country and western, and 50’s rock'n'roll thrown in.
It is not difficult to see why there have been well over 20,000 schools and amateur productions. The content is colourful, family friendly and upbeat, the music melodious, the lyrics nursery rhyme simple.
The trend of casting big names in lead roles, irrespective of talent, is thankfully waning.
The title role is played by Mark McMullan, a Britain’s Got Talent finalist. Popular appeal and a great voice is no guarantee of an ability to carry a flagship musical. However, director Bill Kenwright knows a thing or two about spotting rising talent. That skill has not deserted him. McMullan is tremendous. He can sing, has presence, a powerful physique, and can wear tight trousers with a panache that would make Robert Plant blush.
His highlight comes in the penultimate number of the first Act, Close Every Door, beautifully performed, and delivered, a performance which will have had the casting scouts for Les Miserables twitching with excitement. So strong was the delivery, that the first Act finale, Go, Go, Go Joseph, a perfectly decent number, seemed routine and perfunctory by comparison.
Alexandra Doar co-stars as the narrator, telling the Biblical story of Joseph, from the Book of Genesis. The thirty plus children’s chorus is permanently seated on trestle perimeter terraced seating, serving as a stage audience for her tale, as well as vocal accompaniment. She is terrific, with a great voice, pizazz in abundance, and a cheery disposition which never fades.
Astonishingly, both Doar and McMullan are making their professional musical debuts with this production – both are assured of a long career if they can maintain the levels of performance they gave on this night’s show.
Unusually for a musical, the cast comprises significantly more men than women. Gary Lloyd has been brought in to provide new choreography and succeeds in producing numerous eye-catching set pieces and movement. Including children, there are frequently over forty people on stage, sometimes around fifty, keeping the stage sharp is no easy task, but he succeeds admirably. Although this is not a dance show, it is very pleasing on the eye with the three Handmaidens working overtime to provide a splash of glamour.
The title song is the one everyone knows, and Kenwright ensures that it is not wasted, as it appears four or five times in various guises throughout the evening. At two hours running time, including interval, the show is an object lesson in not overstaying its welcome. It makes no pretence of great meaning, grandeur, or depth. Instead it offers wholesome entertainment, with a light touch and a smile. It thoroughly deserved the rousing applause at the end from a very well attended opening night.
A gorgeously bright and colourful version of one of the most iconic musicals in modern theatre opened at the Wolverhampton Grand last night and had its audience enthralled. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the famous biblical story of Joseph, brought to life through a montage of musical styles, from Do Wop to Country and Western, to Calypso and a whole lotta Elvis. Wonderfully family friendly, and surprisingly funny, Joseph is an absolute joy.
Joseph is one of those musicals that has it all, glorious, catchy songs, great opportunities for scene stealing performances, and the ability to look fantastic in its staging and sets, this production certainly ticks all the boxes. It looks amazing, from the Egyptian scenery, the bright coloured costumes and the hilarious sheep and camels which certainly raise a giggle. The songs which are pastiches on all the modern standard styles still sound so good, with the Country and Western styling of ‘One More Angel in Heaven’, the Benjamin Calypso and the brilliant Elvis spoof of Poor Poor Pharoah/Song of the King all stand out moments, along with the iconic ‘Any Dream Will Do’, which frankly just doesn’t age.
And then we have the performances. The whole cast is brilliant, but Joseph, performed by ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ star Mark McMullen is just superb, with a powerful soaring voice, and a winning, charismatic personality. His voice literally lifts the roof with its power, and he delivers all his songs with charm and style. The fantastic narrator, as played by Alexandra Doar, is also very good and has another wonderful voice.
For many, the stand out scenes are those with the Pharaoh in full Elvis persona, and Henry Lawes as the Pharaoh is an absolute hoot, with ‘the King’ impersonation down to a tee.
Joseph is a classic Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical that seems to find a new audience every generation. With this latest witty and wonderful adaptation, it is not hard to see why. Go see.
