This isn’t a sponsored post
BrumHour was invited to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by Birmingham Hippodrome.
Jac Yarrow who plays Joseph spoke to Brum Radio’s Interval Theatre about bringing this production on tour. Listen here:
By George Elsmere-Whitney twitter.com/caramellattekiss
Review: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Birmingham Hippodrome
A Total Technicolor joy!
Directed by Laurence Connor, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor* Dreamcoat retells the Biblical story of Joseph, who has become the envy of his brother’s thanks to his father’s favour and his ability to interpret dreams. Throw in an Elvis impersonation, iconic songs spanning multiple genres, and a heavy dose of humour, and you’ve got yourself one of the best-loved musicals of all time.
The UK tour is the re-designed London Palladium production, starring Alexandra Burke, Jac Yarrow, and Jason Donovan. The set and costumes are a riot of colour and rainbow details, with plenty of visual gags, including a pair of camels built onto bicycles, and enormous Egyptian statues playing the guitar.
The performances are the real highlight of this show. The children’s cast are more talented than some adult casts I’ve seen and were utilised brilliantly throughout the show in unexpected and screamingly funny ways that I won’t spoil for those yet to see the show. The adult ensemble are just as impressive.
The part of Joseph takes an actor with some real charisma to ensure our hero is charming, rather than a deeply irritating know-it-all. Jac Yarrow has bags of charm to pull this off and was able to keep the audience firmly rooting for him. It’s easy to see why his performance has bagged him an Olivier Award nomination.
Fans of the classic ’90s production of the show are treated to Jason Donovan, who famously played Joseph himself, this time in the role of Pharoah. Donovan was clearly having the time of his life, strutting around the stage, giving his best Elvis hip-swinging, lip-curling impression.
The true star of this production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is Alexandra Burke. In the role of the narrator, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She drew my focus every time she was on stage, thanks to her huge smile and clear joy in her performance. There’s no doubt that Burke has a fantastic singing voice, but it was a treat to find that she is also hilarious. Her energy is impressive too. Despite being visibly very pregnant, she is on stage almost continuously, throwing herself into high-energy dance routines, and infecting the audience with her enthusiasm.
This show is just total technicolor joy, and unashamed camp fun. I started smiling the second the curtain went up and didn’t stop until the end.
A total technicolor joy, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is at Birmingham Hippodrome until Saturday 16th April. Book tickets here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/joseph-and-the-amazing-technic
*Yes this is the spelling for this production
