Joseph – Bringing A Whole New Definition to the Word AMAZING! Nothing short of genius.
Joseph has long held a place in my heart. It was the first musical I remember from my childhood and the first musical I directed as an adult. I reviewed this show a few years ago when it was last at the Grand and absolutely loved it. I honestly didn’t think it could get any better but, wow, was I wrong!
‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ was the first collaboration between Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice when, believe it or not, Webber was still a teenager. Whilst others were busy partying, these two prodigies were writing witty lyrics and catchy tunes. It was created originally as a 15-minute pop medley for a school choir in 1968, but hit the Edinburgh fringe festival 4 years later as a 35-minute production.
This propelled the duo into show business for real and by 1974, it was the full-blown hit that we know and love today. Based on a story from the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament, the musical is based on Joseph, one of 12 brothers in the land of Canaan. Joseph has the gift of being able to know exactly what dreams mean, whilst saying it with precisely zero tact, meaning his other brothers find him annoying and arrogant enough to sell him as a slave and fake his death. However, his ability to interpret dreams eventually shoots Joseph to fortune, fame and the ability to get a bit of revenge against his brothers.
Without a doubt, this is one of the best productions I have ever seen. This new take on what is now a well-worn musical is nothing short of genius. The entire production is based on fun. With the exception of ‘Close Every Door To Me’, which is a beautifully performed moment of despair for Joseph, every action has been created to emphasise the natural comedy of the production. They have changed the premise of the show: instead of there being a children’s choir, the narrator is telling the story to 10 children on stage. The children then perform many of the roles in the show as they ‘act’ out the story together, with Christina Bianco, as Narrator, also taking on other roles, such as Potiphar’s wife and Jacob.
Already it sounds random, but it absolutely works. It makes the show enchanting as well as comedic, as we see four young boys don beards and become the brothers, as well one who performs the role of powerful Potiphar himself. And they are brilliant! They are on stage for most of the 2 hours and are mesmerising to watch, taking on many solos, including ‘Benjamin’s Calypso’.
Their harmonies and dance skills would rival any professional adult. The technical elements of this show are a real marvel too. The simplicity of the set is effective, with the curved floor mimicking the sand dunes of the desert. The lighting is phenomenal, with shadows, beams, gobos and real flames. My favourite element was the star constellations in the sky, which lowered down only to raise up again to represent the tents of Canaan.
The orchestra, too, was outstanding: energetic and perfectly balanced. The conductor, Francesca Warren, looked like she was having the absolute time of her life. This is a brand new score, but don’t worry, the original songs are still there in their brilliant technicolor glory, but new sections have,now been added, including a stunning tap dance after ‘Joseph’s Dream’ by the brothers and an extended hoe-down after ‘One More Angel In Heaven’. These brought a new freshness to the show and played on this element of comedy as well. Fans of the original show will love the respect they play to the most famous songs such as ‘Any Dream Will Do’ and ‘Go Go Go Joseph’, and you have the pleasure of singing along to a brilliant medley at the end, too.
The ensemble cast was fantastic too, from the backing dancers to the brothers. Adam Filipe played Joseph brilliantly, if with perhaps less arrogance than previous versions, and his singing was superb. Christina Bianco as the narrator was outstanding (once you get over the American accent); her ability to switch so quickly between so many roles remarkable. She has so much energy and sparkle that she kept the whole pace of the show fast and slick. Joe McElderry is great as Pharoah and plays to the audience beautifully.
One thing is certain: I have never smiled so much during a production. I have also never booked more tickets for the same show during the interval before, but this I certainly did. I was desperate to take my son to see the show, to see the children especially on stage. The only downside is that there are hardly any seats left for this tour anywhere in the country: I was even looking at Leicester and Birmingham, I was that desperate. However, you’ll be glad to know that I have managed to book him 2 balcony seats for this Friday night as an early 7th birthday present to him (it’s on Sunday!). I’ve never seen the same professional show twice in a week before and all I can say is….I cannot wait!
Try and grab yourself a ticket whilst you can….there are a few golden ones left. But be quick….once word gets out just how AMAZING this show is they won’t be there for long. If you have already got tickets…congratulations for excellent planning and ENJOY!
Interestingly, this musical started life as a pop cantata in 1968: a 15 minute number performed by the Colet Court School Choir in London. Webber was just a teenager when he wrote this piece with his friend and collaborator, Tim Rice. Though based on the story of ‘Joseph’ from the Book of Genesis, Webber and Rice modernised the story (remember it was the sixties!) with some cheeky humour and pastiche pop songs to create a performance that instantly had charm. By 1972, a 35-minute musical theatre performance hit the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with such force that by 1974 the full length version as we know it was premiered at the Haymarket Theatre in Leicester. Not bad for a guy still only in his mid twenties.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is at Leeds Grand Theatre from Tue 25 – Sat 29 May 2025. Book online at leedsheritagetheatres.com or call the Box Office on 0113 243 0808.
Photography by Tristram Kenton. Main image: Adam Filipe as Joseph and Joe McElderry as Pharoah.
