We donned our coats of many colours and headed to The Grand Opera House, to catch York Stage’s latest production, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. A family favourite, we were excited to see how the team would stage the hit Andrew Lloyd-Webber classic.
For those not in the know, Joseph follows the tale of a young dreamer from a large family who is sold into slavery, but bounces back as Pharaoh’s right hand man. Donny Osmond popularised the title role in the 1999 film, as well as both Jason Donavan and Philip Schofield in stage adaptations.
Here, Reuben Khan is expertly cast as Joseph, and oh boy can he sing. Close Every Door is a highlight, and brings the house down. He’s a walking work of art in his coat too, in fact all of the costumes are a treat.
Hannah Shaw draws everything together as the Narrator, and is another powerhouse vocalist. She plays the Narrator with a genuine warmth and has a great quick costume change too…blink and you’ll miss it! Pharaoh was played by Amy Barrett, complete with oversized Elvis quiff and plenty of swagger. It’s unusual for this role to be played by a woman, but she brings lots of energy and pizzazz to the role.
In such a large cast there are too many to mention individually, but this is truly an ensemble piece – and there is no weak link. The brothers have a believable camaraderie and, even with Simeon (Finn East) on crutches, the energy never dips.
The large group of children in Team Canaan have boundless enthusiasm and bags of talent. They are clearly having the very best time, and I’m glad they get their own Joseph megamix at the start of Act Two! Expect slick choreography, a few ‘aww’ moments and even a little sass. Special mention must go to Darcie Hynes and Daniel Tomlin, who were especially dynamic and expressive – but all the kids were stars!
Technically the show is a triumph. Beautifully lit and staged, there are some inventive ideas here. I was especially impressed with the use of ladders to represent things like a prison cell and tall chariot, even if they looked a little precarious and wobbly at points. A live orchestra led by Adam Tomlinson ensures a rich sound across the diverse songs style in Joseph – everything from Calypso, Western and French ballads to rock and roll, pop and jazz.
We’ve seen several professional productions of Joseph so it’s difficult not to compare, however this is well up there with the best of them. Although technically an amateur production, you’d be forgiven at points for thinking this is a fully realised West End show. And that’s a testament to the hardworking cast, crew and creatives at York Stage. Pure theatrical magic.
This opening night crowd were on their feet at the end, and the accolades are well deserved. Thank you York Stage for a sensational show.
Go Go Go book your tickets now for feel-good family fun that’ll have you toe-tapping ’til the very end!
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Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat runs at Grand Opera House York until Saturday 20th April 2024. Book online at https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/york-stage-presents-joseph-and-the-amazing-technicolor-dreamcoat/grand-opera-house-york/
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