An absolute joy!
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.
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.
Catch Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat before it ends on Saturday January 11 – you won’t regret it. It’s a great night out for all the family.
ESP Rating: 5/5
Mikey Clarke
Running time: 2 hours 5 mins
Photos: Pamela Raith Photography
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