REVIEW: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking

The award-winning Linzi Hateley and rising star Jac Yarrow lead this impressive and hardworking cast in the latest revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical, Joseph. The story follows gifted Joseph and his brother’s struggle to remain in his shade accompanied by a number of sing-a-long classic songs.

The set design is vibrant, flexible and moves slickly from one scene to the next allowing the story to move along at a good pace and no song or scene outstaying their welcome. Morgan Large’s design is a feast for the eyes, especially once the story moves into Egypt and we meet the charismatic Pharoah played by Bobby Windebank. Windebank sparkles as the Elvis-esque Pharoah full of hip thrusts and high-energy moves. 

INTERVIEW: Joe McElderry, currently playing there title tole in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on tour around the UK

Joe McElderry won the X factor back in 2009 and has since gone on to have a great career both in singing and musical theatre. After appearing in Popstar to Opera star back in 2011, he has gone on to tour many solo shows around the UK and play the title roles in both The Who's Tommy and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He returns to play Joseph once again on tour, we talk to Joe after opening the new leg of this tour last week... 

How does it feel returning to this musical?

Its brilliant to be back, it has been such a fun and wonderful experience and to finish of the year in this show is a great way to end an incredible year.

Joseph is a show that most people are exposed to quite early on, do you remember your first theatre experiences?

My first theatre experience was going to our local pantomime and I always remember being so excited about the lights and costumes and always wanted to go backstage and see what it was all about. 

Where are they now? Any Dream Will Do!

Following on from How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria, the reality TV to find the newest star of The Sound of Music at the London Palladium, Andrew Loyd Webber followed it up with Any Dream Will Do. This series searched for the newest star of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. With Graham Norton returning as the host as well as John Barrowman and Zoe Tyler also returning as judges, they were joined by Denise Van Often and Bill Kenwright. Some of the series to follow were I'd Do Anything (The Search for Nancy) and Over the Rainbow (The search for Dorothy). Rival TV shows to these BBC produced series also came up in Superstar (The search for Jesus), Grease is the Word (The search for Danny and Sandy) and Fame: The musical (the search for Nick and Serena). If you are a theatre geek like me, you'll remember these TV shows! And if you don't, you'll certainly know some of the contestants. So, where are they now?

Lee Mead

After winning the show Lee went on to play the role of Joseph from the West End revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Adelphi Theatre. Since leaving the show his theatre credits include the title role in the Lord Arthur Savile's Crime (UK Tour); Fiyero in Wicked (Apollo Victoria Theatre); Emmett in Legally Blonde (Savoy Theatre); lead vocalist in West End Men (Tour and Vaudeville Theatre) Prince Charming in Cinderella (London Palladium), Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (UK Tour) Billy Flynn in Chicago (UK Tour) and The Prince in Snow White (New Wimbledon Theatre). He went on to be a regular character on Casualty, leaving in December 2019. As well as that, he has performed extensively since the show as a solo artist and has released numerous albums, his last in 2018 entitled 'Lee Mead - 10 Years'. 

Lee's Twitter | Lee's Instagram

Keith Jack

Losing out to Lee Mead, Keith still got to star as Joseph, he went on to play the role for three years on the UK touring production of the show, having also played the Narrator previously in the same production. His other credits include Charlie in Only the Brave (Edinburgh Fringe Festival); Alastair in the UK premiere of Sincerely Mr Toad (Pleasance Theatre); Ralph Rackstraw in HMS Pinafore (UK Tour); Sparky in Forever Plaid (St. James Theatre), toured the UK with Joe McElderry in Saturday Night at the Movies. Nick in Fame (UK Tour & Troubadour Theatre Wembley), Ally in Sunshine on Leith & Freddie Fellows in Noises Off (Pitlochry Festival Theatre) and the title role in Aladdin (The Sands Centre). Keith has released two albums, His debut was called This Time and went straight into the Top 40 and his most recent album An Evening at the Musicals was released in 2010. 

Keith's Twitter | Keith's Instagram 

REVIEW: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin

With lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, ”Joseph" is perhaps one of the world's best known musicals having been staged by a multitude of professional companies as well as by thousands of schools and amateur drama groups throughout the world.  This particular production is the latest Joseph tour to make its way around the United Kingdom and Ireland bringing with it several recognisable faces. 

The show features quite a basic set and at times it felt a little like watching a pantomime. With inflatable sheep, a wooden camel head and a pull along goat on wheels it did sometimes feel quite amateurish. The costumes were a little underwhelming and, though I’m not sure why, the white sports shoes stood out the entire time and didn’t seem to fit with the costumes of the brothers. 

The lighting provided the show with lots of colour throughout and was definitely one of the best technical aspects of the show. 

FIRST LOOK: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, starring Lloyd Daniels and Danielle Hope

With a crash-of-drums-and-a-flash-of-light X Factor finalist Lloyd Daniels makes his musical theatre debut in the title role of the UKs longest running musical JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. The youngest contestant in 2009’s competition, Daniels got to the final 5 out of 250,000 entrants and performed in front of 10 million TV viewers. Since then he has performed to sold out arenas on a 56 date X Factor tour and released popular single Suburban Girl.

Danielle Hope captured the hearts of the country when she won BBC Television’s Over the Rainbow and made her professional debut as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium. Now, following a hugely successful year as Eponine in Les Misérables in London’s West End she joins the cast of Joseph as Narrator.

LLOYD DANIELS and DANIELLE HOPE star in touring production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Lloyd Daniels, Former X Factor contestant, and Danielle Hope, Winner of BBC's Over the Rainbow will star in  Bill Kenwright's touring production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as Joseph and the Narrator. Ex-EastEnders actor Matthew Lapinskas will also star as Pharaoh. 

Joseph started life in 1968 as a 20-minute entertainment for an end-of-term school concert. By the time it received its Broadway premiere in 1982, it had been expanded into a full two-hour show. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, Joseph’s popular score includes the songs "Any Dream Will Do", "Close Every Door to Me", “Go, Go, Go Joseph”, “Those Canaan Days”, “Benjamin Calypso” and "One More Angel in Heaven".