Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat At Leeds Grand Theatre Review

Reviewed by Kat Harrison

Last night my husband, my two daughters and I headed to the Leeds Grand Theatre to see ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’; two hours of big, bold and bright entertainment and so, so much fun! It’s there until 23rd July, before it continues on its UK Tour, don’t miss it.

I was more than a little bit excited. ‘Joseph’ holds a special place in my heart and makes up a prominent part of my childhood memories. Not only was ‘Joseph’ one of the first musicals I ever saw, it’s the only musical I’ve seen more than once. After two previous watches, albeit a while ago, this new take on the musical had a lot to live up to. And that it did. And more.

From Director Laurence Connor comes a fresh and vibrant production. The staging of this musical stands head and shoulders above its predecessors. For me, it’s the kids that do it. Previously, a children’s choir has performed almost on the sidelines. In this version, the children are at the absolute heart of the show.

They play important roles including Joseph’s brothers, the Cook, the Butler and Potiphar. As roles I’ve seen previously all played by adults, it was refreshing to see these aspiring young actors tackle important scenes and choreographed routines that are enough to challenge those with years of experience. It added more laughs and a completely new fun factor to the show.

The children don’t just sing; they dance, they act, they stand and hold their own amongst the adults. It’s perfectly pitched at a new generation of youngsters who will love this feel-good family musical as much as their parents and grandparents did the original. It was a introduction to the world of musicals for my five-year-old who loved seeing the children take on their roles with awe-inspiring levels of energy and enthusiasm. Kids love watching kids and this show presents a fabulous means for them to do just that. My little one has been singing ‘Go, Go, Go Joseph’ on repeat, with the same fantastic up-beat performance style as the cast (she could just do with learning a few more lines!)

‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ is based on a bible story in which Jacob seemingly loves his son Joseph more than his eleven brothers. Fuelled by jealousy, the brothers sell Joseph into slavery and take his treasured multicoloured coat back to their father, claiming his precious son has been killed. A down on his luck Joseph escapes jail using his ability to interpret dreams to win the admiration of Egypt’s Pharaoh by leading the country through a famine. But hard times have hit his family? Will Joseph forgive his brothers?

As a 1990’s teenager, I loved watching Jason Donovan as Joseph. Fast forward some thirty years or so, and to welcome the Australian heartthrob back into the cast, this time taking on the role of Pharaoh, was a slice of pure marketing genius. For me, back in the day Jason made a better Joseph than a present day Pharaoh but nethertheless, his Elvis Tribute went down well with the audience. I wasn’t entirely convinced by his performance but in his defence, Pharaoh’s songs were always my least favourite of a hugely enjoyable selection of musical numbers. Jason does know how to get an audience going and is able to poke fun at himself as a veteran of the show as opposed to its once fresh-faced star. Just like the show, Jason doesn’t take himself too seriously but still puts in a stellar performance and is a popular if small part of a fun, entertaining but equally intelligent production.

Olivier award-nominated Jac Yarrow, far from slipping on a hand-me down coat, makes this coat and this role, appear tailored just for him. His performance of the classic song ‘Any Dream Will Do’ was just pitch perfect. Jac made his professional debut as Joseph, fresh from drama school and has successfully held onto this role with enough charm to override an edge of arrogance about his character. His rendition of ‘Close Every Door’ really showcases his smooth vocals in a simply sophisticated style.

As a musical told completely through song, ‘Joseph’ manages to hold attention; not always an easy task. Every song is unique and a wide range of styles from country to rock n’roll to calypso keep you on your toes. I was surprised to find myself (silently) singing every word to every song. Those years of playing the official CD over and over in my bedroom became evident. The storytelling within the music is genius and highlights the brilliance of the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber partnership. It’s definitely a musical to watch more than once as the lyrics, all of which you may not quite catch first time round, are home to many a clever and comedic moment. The more you listen, the more you will fall in love with them.

I was so pleased to hear that Linzi Hateley would be reprising her role as the Narrator. I remember being absolute in awe of her voice as a teenager but this time round, she absolutely floored me with her talent. Rather than just a singing storyteller who links the action together, in this new version of ‘Joseph’ she is very much part of the performance, taking on cleverly integrated extra roles including Joseph’s Father Jacob. Her singing, dancing and comedic timing are amazing but it’s the enthusiasm that exudes from her throughout the show that ensures a smile remains plastered on your face throughout. I have never seen anyone enjoy their job so much! I need some of her energy; she never stops bounding around the stage, belting out huge numbers and transforming into aliases! Linzi keeps the whole show going and at no point was there even a hint of tiredness about her. Her energy is unbelievable, as is her clearly evident dedication to the role and the whole production. For me she completely stole the show and judging by the audience’s cheers at the finale, I’m not alone in my thinking.

This is a show bursting with talent. And it’s a non-stop performance that requires energy on par with that talent. Everyone looked like they were having so much fun; I just wanted to be up on stage with them.

‘Joseph’ has been deemed a classic musical for some time and this latest production will allow that to continue. This show with its catchy, upbeat songs, mesmerising dance routines and eye-catching costumes capture something special. If you’re looking for something fantastic and fun for all the family, you’ve found it.

Rating: 4 and a half stars out of 5

Joseph and The amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat plays at Leeds Grand until 23rd July before continuing its UK tour.

Tickets £27- £54

Leeds Grand Theatre, 46 New Briggate, Leeds LS1 6NU

Box Office: 0113 243 0808

Buy tickets @ https://leedsheritagetheatres.com/whats-on/joseph/

See all the UK Tour Dates @ https://uktour.josephthemusical.com