Review: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK Tour) at the Milton Keynes Theatre

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK Tour)

Milton Keynes Theatre

Reviewed on Tuesday 28th June 2016

★★★

No childhood is complete without a theatre trip to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's colourful retelling of the biblical story about Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many colours is irresistibly charming, I'm always surprised when I watch the show and realise I know every single word to every single song. It's the perfect musical for young, first time theatregoers.

Full casting confirmed for Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat

Full casting has been confirmed for the upcoming UK tour of Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat.

Opening at the Broadway Theatre in Peterborough on 26th January 2016, the cast will be led by the previously announced Joe McElderry as Joseph alongside Lucy Kay as the Narrator.

Completing the cast are: Henry Metcalfe as Jacob/Potiphar, Emilianos Stamatakis as Pharaoh, Tilly Ford as Mrs Potiphar/Handmaiden, Benjamin Beechey as Reuben, Will Breckin (pictured) as Simeon, Tom Hier as Levi, Lewis Asquith as Naphali/Butler, Sackie Osakonor as Isacchar/ Calypso Singer, Michael Lapham as Asher, Boris Alexander as Dan/Baker, Jamie Jukes as Zebulun, Anthony Ray as Gad and George Knapper as Benjamin plus Samantha Noel and Gemma Pipe as Handmaiden.

Big Interview: Joe McElderry

Joe McElderry is currently preparing to star as the title character in the UK tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat which recommences at the Broadway Theatre in Peterborough on 26th January 2016.

Joseph marks Joe’s first major role in a long running musical. In 2012 he played the title character in The Who's Tommy for a one-off West End gala and reprised his performance last year for a limited run at the Blackpool Opera House. 

Joe previously recorded a duet with Kerry Ellis, the first lady of the West End, for her self-titled album and joined her for the London date of her UK tour, as well as making appearances in various theatrical concerts and events. This Christmas he starred as the Man in the Mirror in Hull’s panto, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. 

Mentored by Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Joe won The X Factor aged 18 in 2009. His version of Miley Cyrus’s 'The Climb' topped the singles charts whilst his debut album Wide Awake reached number 3 on the UK Albums Chart.

He has since gone on to have two more top ten albums and become the first X Factor winner to release four albums, with a fifth in the making. Joe is the first and only celebrity to have won three reality TV shows. He was crowned the winner of the second series of ITV’s Popstar to Operastar before strapping on his skis and winning Channel 4’s celebrity ski competition The Jump in 2014.

I recently spoke to Joe about joining Joseph, the differences between the theatre world and music industry, his loyal fanbase and being named the ultimate X Factor winner…

Joseph is one of those shows which is passed down the generations. Did you see it when you were growing up?

I saw it once and my junior school did it when I was a kid, but I was never in it. I think that’s the beauty of it – it’s a lovely family show. Everybody loves it! It’s been so nice for me because when people have been coming up to me in the street recently or speaking to me backstage at shows everybody’s been excited, there’s a real buzz about it… weirdly more so than anything I’ve done before! Even friends who don’t usually comment much on my career and tend to play it cool have been like “I’m so excited to see you in Joseph!” Everybody has such an attachment with the show.

Lucy Kay to star alongside Joe McElderry in Joseph UK tour

It has been announced that Lucy Kay will star as the Narrator in the upcoming UK tour of Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat.

The former Britain's Got Talent finalist will star alongside the previously announced X Factor winner Joe McElderry who is taking on the title role. Further casting is to be announced.

Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat opens at The Broadway Theatre in Peterborough on 26th January 2016.

The month ahead: January 2016

Keep an eye on...

Noma Dumezweni

Noma Dumezweni's career is currently soaring from strength to strength. This week she is giving her final performances as the title character in Linda at the Royal Court, a role she took over from Kim Cattrall two weeks before opening night. She is also preparing to make her directorial debut, helming I See You by Mongiwekhaya which begins performances at the Royal Court in February. Later this year she will take on the role of a lifetime, starring as Hermione in J.K. Rowling's play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Dumezweni is certainly one to watch!

Sheila Hancock & Jenna Russell

Later this week (7th Jan) the European première of Grey Gardens opens to press at the Southwark Playhouse. Thom Southerland's production stars Sheila Hancock and Jenna Russell, both of whom are Olivier Award winning actresses. In 2007 Hancock won Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical for playing Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret whilst Russell won Best Actress in a Musical in 2006 for playing Dot in Sunday in the Park with George. There's already talk in theatreland about both stars giving performances to remember; Grey Gardens plays until 6th February 2016.

Shows that should be on your radar...

Joe McElderry & Antony Costa to star in The Who's Tommy

Full casting has been announced for The Who's Tommy which runs at the Blackpool Opera House between 12th and 26th September 2015.

The production is directed by Paul Nicholas who starred alongside Elton John, Roger Daltrey and Tina Turner in the 1975 film version.  

The cast is led by  X Factor winner Joe McElderry as Tommy and Blue's Antony Costa as Cousin Kevin.

Ashely J Russell plays Mrs Walker alongside Will Barratt as Captain Walker, Tony Ballis as Uncle Ernie, Jon Addison as Lover, Melanie Bright as The Acid Queen, Benjamin Yates & Patrick George as Pinball Wizards and Sarah Kasey as Sally Simpson.

Jessie Wallace, Joe McElderry, Frances Ruffelle, Rhydian Roberts & more for charity concert Busting to Sing at the Palace Theatre

Breast cancer awareness charity CoppaFeel! have announced that a one-off gala concert, Busting to Sing, will take place at the Palace Theatre on Monday 31st March 2014.

Hosted by TV Presenter, Matt Johnson, Busting to Sing will bring together stars from music and showbiz to raise thousands of pounds and awareness for CoppaFeel!

Performers already confirmed include: Paul Potts, Jessie Wallace, Kingsland Road, Joe McElderry, Frances Ruffelle and Rhydian Roberts with more names to be announced soon.

X Factor's Amelia Lily joins Shrek The Musical for Children In Need

As the momentum continues to build for the show-stopping BBC Children in Need POP Goes the Musical, the charity is thrilled to announce the addition of Amelia Lily to its celebrity line-up. The X Factor finalist will take to the stage to perform a unique collaboration with cast members from the award-winning Shrek The Musical.

Amelia said “Shrek The Musical is loved by people of all ages, I'm thrilled to be a part of it. I can’t wait to start rehearsals!”

Joe McElderry joins Thriller Live for special Children In Need performance

Joe McElderry has joined the lineup of BBC Children in Need's 'POP Goes the Musical' 2012. The X Factor winner will perform Michael Jackson's 'She's Out of My Life' in Thriller Live on November 15th. Macy Gray and girl group Stooshe will also each separately take on a Michael Jackson classic in the special performance of Thriller Live.

X Factor Winner Joe McElderry to make West End debut as Tommy in Charity Gala

Former X Factor winner Joe McElderry will make his West End debut playing the title role in the forthcoming concert performance of Tommy at the Prince Edward Theatre. The Who's rock opera is being revived on 12th November in aid of the Pure Theatre Development Fund. Last month Joe also joined a charity gala performance of the UK tour of Dirty Dancing.

Joe, who won the 2009 series of X Factor, joins a cast that also includes Daniel Boys (Captain Walker), Hannah Jane Fox (Mrs Walker), David Hunter (Cousin Kevin), Glenn Carter (Uncle Ernie) and Zoe Birkett (The Acid Queen).

Joe McElderry to join Dirty Dancing for Charity Gala Performance

It has been announced that X Factor winner Joe McElderry will join the touring cast of Dirty Dancing for a special gala performance at the Sunderland Empire on Tuesday 25th September 2012. The special gala performance is in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust of which Joe is an ambassador and North East patron. 

The Geordie singer, whose new album Here’s What I Believe will be released on 10 September, will perform the iconic Dirty Dancing finale number Time of My Life. There will be bucket collections before and after each show during the week of 24th September, with all with all proceeds going towards supporting teenagers and young adults diagnosed with cancer across the UK.