Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, UK Tour Review (2025)
Written by Sarah for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals have not been in vogue with the ‘kool kids’ for a while now. Try telling that to the packed house at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham. From 8 to 80, there is a palpable swelling of excitement in the auditorium before the curtain goes up on this leg of the national tour. “I was in it at school in 1989”, “we sing it in assembly”, “ did you know Philip Schofield was in it?”, “what?”. Times change, but there is something reassuringly cosy about Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, whilst still being as youthful as ever. It is bursting with energy, colour, the bangin’ “Joseph Megamix” and loads of beards.
The show is the first love child of the Rice - Webber matrimony that has spanned 5 decades and whose legacy is firmly rooted in musical theatre history and woven into the fabric of our cultural landscape. For some, it is the soundtrack to memories and dreams of their own. Performed in over 80 countries, it has won Tony’s, Olivier’s, and been made into a film. It’s even been at number 1 in the charts in multiple countries when Jason Donovan released “Any Dream Will Do” in 1991. For those that don’t know, the story is about a guy called Joseph, with a colourful coat, big dreams and loads of brothers. It's based on the beginning of this old book called The Bible; see Genesis for further information.
It’s fair to say audiences don’t flock to ‘Joseph’ for its theological content but for the all too catchy tunes that stay in your head for days, colourful characters, and creative storytelling. which is exactly what they get in this wholesome theatrical extravaganza. Thankfully this production seems to have skirted any political or cultural sensitivities that threaten to compromise productions in the current ‘cancel culture’ climate, so more people have the opportunity to share in the joy of this all time classic, performed by a knock-out cast.
A major triumph of this show is that it requires simple effective design and relies on the skills of the creatives to do the heavy lifting. It is the perfect show for performers to prove their metal and deliver award-winning West End performances to regional theatres. It’s a real achievement, in this economy, to make quality work accessible to anyone, let alone outside of the M25.
This revival of the show kicked off in Edinburgh at the end of 2024 with the eternal heartthrob, Donny Osmand as the star attraction in the role of Pharaoh, who was described as ‘Vegas worthy’ and ‘electrifying’. For the Nottingham leg of the tour, the baton has been passed to 2006 Xfactor winner, Joe McEldrey who infuses the role with some pantomime dame energy. Adam Filipe is perfectly cast as Joseph, with a youthful innocence and natural warmth. He is grounded yet ethereal at times, effortless but energised. His voice is like butter and hits the spot every single time. Adam has a charismatic connection with the audience and fellow performers that is perhaps reminiscent of a young Donny Osmand.
The lynchpin in the show is the role of the Narrator, played by the irrepressible Christina Bianco, who proves that she is not just a triple threat but an atomic one! Christina handles the score with finesse and extraordinary vocal versatility; in range, tone and style she never fails to surprise and delight the audience. Christiana brings ease and a twinkle to dance numbers, particularly in a break out tap routine with a performance that would rival Shirley Temple. This powerhouse of a performer proves her acting chops by seamlessly transforming into auxiliary characters like the elderly, bearded role of Jacob's father, causing much hilarity amongst the crowd. Christiana’s dexterity as a performer is apparent because she very much holds the reins in this production, even managing to wrangle a dozen children and their beards.
The ensemble, including the children, work brilliantly together and are like energizer bunnies, with unbelievable levels of physical and vocal athleticism. The choreography is slick, varied, and celebratory. Particularly the CanCan number, with ruffled rainbowed petticoats, the audience were clapping along and could not get enough.
There were a couple of jarring moments when a phone was brought on stage and a take away coffee given to Pharaoh, perplexing and unnecessary but perhaps it was appealing to the ‘kool kids’. The colours, movement, light, and classic tunes by a team of award-winning creatives and star talents make this show a roaring success. The audience were dancing in their seats but leapt to their feet during the ‘Joseph Megamix’ in a real party atmosphere; it’s pretty safe to say, this show is still a big hit.
On a UK Tour until 10 August 2025.
★ ★ ★ ★
