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★★★★½
My first London show after the COVID-19 lockdowns was the 2021 London Palladium production of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’, reigniting my adoration for the West End after a long break. I raved about this show in my review at the time and when I heard that this same revival was going to be touring the UK and Ireland in 2025, I was both apprehensive and excited, wondering how the energetic and cheery show would fare at regional venues. For the next week and a half ‘Joseph’ is in my local city of Canterbury, with performances at the Marlowe Theatre, and I was fortunate enough to be able to watch the show on press night. I am thrilled to say it is just as joyful as it was in London, bringing the classic musical to a new audience!
Initial thoughts
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s collaborations in the 1970s brought some mega-hit musicals including ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, ‘Evita’ and ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’, which continue to tour and are the focus of revivals today. Their success has transcended decades, but there will always be a nostalgia element, particularly in the case of ‘Joseph’. The touring production for 2025 tells the same story of Joseph from the Bible’s Book of Genesis with the songs everyone knows and loves, but it manages to strike a balance of being both sentimental and contemporary, focusing on the timeless score and imaginative visuals.
Set design and visuals
For a show that centres on a technicolour dreamcoat, it goes without saying that this production is a technicolour masterpiece. There is a limited amount of physical set pieces, with the creative team relying on vibrant backdrops and colourful costumes to convey the story. This effect really works for the sung-through musical as the music takes centre stage and is surrounded by dynamic scene changes. The score also spans musical genres, from country to rock ‘n’ roll, and this is reflected in Morgan Large’s set design. Even though certain scenes feel quite different musically, the subtle changes in the creative elements make the production appear cohesive. My only criticism would be that I wish ‘Joseph’ was a slightly longer show, so that you have more time to appreciate the visual shifts between musical numbers.
An incredible cast
‘Joseph’ is very much an ensemble-focused musical, featuring children in some of the adult roles, and the cast excel at the comedy aspects of the script. They are led by Christina Bianco as the Narrator, Adam Filipe as Joseph and Joe McElderry, an alumni of the show, as the Pharaoh. Each of the principal performers are fantastic in their respective roles, but Christina for me is the standout. She brings so much comedy, charm and charisma to the demanding part, with her version of the Narrator appearing cheeky and mischievous. Christina is clearly having so much fun in this show and deserved every second of the rapturous applause at the end.
Sound quality
The sound and production quality for ‘Joseph’ is exceptional. With such a short amount of time to get settled in a venue, sometimes touring theatre doesn’t quite get the balancing right ahead of the first couple of performances. This was definitely not the case with ‘Joseph’, with the orchestrations and vocals sounding pitch perfect throughout the performance. The songs are typically what makes Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice shows so memorable in my opinion, and in this version the music sounds incredible.
Go, go, go and see this show at the Marlowe!
This production is an example of exceptional touring musical theatre. For a musical that has been around since the 1960s/70s and revived countless times, the London Palladium production continues to feel fresh, modern and totally worthy of another UK and Ireland tour. It actually made me quite emotional hearing the songs live again; the score and source material are in safe hands with this new touring company. You can catch ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ at the Marlowe Theatre until Sunday 2nd February, with the last few tickets available via the theatre’s website. This is the perfect musical to beat the January blues and is packed with so much joy.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
*My ticket for ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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