Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at London Palladium
Some musicals never get old. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, is just as spectacular as it was in the 70s – perhaps thanks to its diverse musical style, which takes inspiration from genres as broad as can-can, 1920s Charleston and Elvis-style rock’n’roll. There is something here for everyone, and every melody is catchy and earworm-inducing. Coupled with that is a fantastic production by Laurence Connor and a stellar cast, turning this into a bombastic performance of a musical that has lost absolutely none of its charm.
The minute the curtain opens, and the audience is introduced to the narrator (Alexandra Burke), it is clear that this show is something else. It tells the biblical story of daydreamer Joseph (Jac Yarrow), who is sold into slavery by his brothers for being their father’s favourite. Through an act of providence, he ends up as advisor to the camp Pharaoh (Jason Donovan), finally forgives his brothers for their crimes, and provides them with food during a dreadful famine.
The cast is nothing short of stupendous. Yarrow is a charming and impressively astute Joseph, and shows exactly why he received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination in 2020 for this role (quite a feat, considering he only just graduated in 2019). Donovan as the Pharaoh is equally entertaining, with a delightful Elvis impression, made even more hilarious by being flanked by two guitar-playing statues of Egyptian gods. A cast of talented children gives the show a further boost in charm and spirit, but it is Burke as the narrator who lights up the stage: she is constantly present and delivers time and again in a spirit that proves clearly that she was made for the role.
The production itself is just as delightful. Morgan Large’s set and costume design are flawless, featuring a perfect and amazingly detailed range of features as the plot demands them, supported well by Ben Cracknell’s lighting, which is acutely aligned and demonstrates some clever finesse. This resurrection of Joseph is simply brilliant. From the cast to the production to the musical itself, everything is as refreshing as a cold drink after a hot day at the office. A well-deserved recommendation for the whole family – and a toast to an amazing show.
Michael Higgs
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is at London Palladium from 12th July until 5th September 2021. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.
Watch some behind-the-scenes footage of the show here:
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