Theatre Royal, Nottingham – until Saturday 15th February 2025
Reviewed by Chris Jarvis
5*****
This production brings “a rainbow of joy to the audience!”
Originally commissioned in 1968 to write a bible story set to pop music for a school production, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, chose the character of Joseph from the Children’s Wonder Book of Bible Stories as a story of jealousy, revenge and forgiveness with a happy ending. The 22-minute musical was performed to an audience of only 200 parents. Five years later Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – fondly becoming known as simply “Joseph” – reached the West End. Now, almost 60 years later hundreds of amateur and professional versions are performed across the world every year and it has become a musical phenomenon that is loved by audiences of every generation.
For those like me who have never seen this musical, it is based on the life of the biblical character Joseph (Adam Filipe), the second youngest of twelve brothers. He is a handsome young man, known for his ability to interpret dreams and was the favoured son of his father Jacob who gave him an “amazing coat of many colours.” He is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers who convince Jacob that a wild animal killed Joseph.
Joseph becomes a servant in Egypt and ends up imprisoned after advances from his master’s wife. While in prison his ability to interpret dreams makes him extremely popular. The Egyptian Pharaoh (Joe McElderry) has troubling dreams and, hearing of Joseph’s talent summons him to interpret them.
Joseph correctly interprets these dreams, and this leads to his rise to a prominent position in Egypt where he predicts and helps prepare for a famine. During this famine, Joseph’s starving brothers come to Egypt seeking food, unaware that the powerful official they are dealing with is their long-lost brother. After giving his brothers a scare as payback for their treatment of him in the past, he reveals his identity, grants them all they desire, and reunites the family.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that’s not a particularly exciting story! However, it is told through incredible narration, humour, dance and songs that you will immediately recognise. Although set in Ancient Egypt the musical opens in current times with children dressed in jeans and tee shirts and Christina Bianco explaining the story to the children. Her casting in the programme as “Narrator” is an understatement – she is sensational!! She sings and dances ‘her’ audience through the story, taking on numerous characters including Joseph’s father Jacob, clearly having a great time and ensuring we did too! She is the ‘star of the show’!
Every song is performed to a different theme with Pharaoh’s ‘Song of the King’ performed by Joe McElderry as pure Elvis including the hip action, in a brilliant gold set of ancient Egypt. The most hilarious set for me was the performance of ‘Those Canaan Days’ with Joseph’s 11 brothers in a French café mourning the loss of their brother as they face the famine. Adam Filipe gives his all as Joseph with an incredible voice and brings his beautiful ‘coat of many colours’ to life with his energetic and powerful dancing. The children throughout are incredible – both those playing children and those fitting in so well as adults.
All in all, a hugely entertaining performance that deserved the standing ovation and then continued with the audience joining in with a fantastic finale – a medley of joyful and colourful song and dance.