REVIEW
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend on Sea
Tue 17th June 2025 - Sun 22nd June 2025
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend on Sea
Tue 17th June 2025 - Sun 22nd June 2025
The Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat UK Tour has made its way to Southend’s Cliffs Pavilion this week and the audience on press night were super-hyped up for the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber 50 year old musical that never seems to go out of fashion.
Last night’s show held even more excited anticipation due to the fact that Adam Filipe who plays Joseph was not performing due to an injury and second cover, Joseph Craig, who usually plays the role of Asher, was up for the first time playing in the role that has seen the likes of Jason Donovan, Phillip Schofield, Donny Osmond and Lee Mead, to name but a few, perform as Joseph, and he certainly didn’t disappoint.
For anyone who doesn’t know, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is basically a sung through bible story, led by a Narrator, which in this production is the brilliant Christina Bianco, who brings to life the tale of Jacob’s favourite son, Joseph, who is sold by his jealous brothers (after their father gives Joseph a rainbow coloured coat), to Ishmaelites and then ends up in prison and eventually becomes the Pharaoh’s number one guy, after successfully interpreting his dreams.
Last night’s show held even more excited anticipation due to the fact that Adam Filipe who plays Joseph was not performing due to an injury and second cover, Joseph Craig, who usually plays the role of Asher, was up for the first time playing in the role that has seen the likes of Jason Donovan, Phillip Schofield, Donny Osmond and Lee Mead, to name but a few, perform as Joseph, and he certainly didn’t disappoint.
For anyone who doesn’t know, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is basically a sung through bible story, led by a Narrator, which in this production is the brilliant Christina Bianco, who brings to life the tale of Jacob’s favourite son, Joseph, who is sold by his jealous brothers (after their father gives Joseph a rainbow coloured coat), to Ishmaelites and then ends up in prison and eventually becomes the Pharaoh’s number one guy, after successfully interpreting his dreams.
All photos: Tristram Kenton
The musical has had its fair share of re-inventions over the years and this latest one has been given a slightly different slant. Usually the children in the show are on the sidelines of the stage, adding their vocals to the action where needed, however, this version has the children actively involved and taking on roles of some the characters that in the past have been played by adults. This works really well with some playing Joseph’s brothers and others as the baker and butler which were nicely played by the kids on press night. In particular, the role of Benjamin was beautifully sung in the Benjamin Calypso number too. (We weren’t given the names of the children so apologies for not being able to name the performers here.)
From the very start you know you’re in for a treat as the band strikes up that familiar score with gusto, and continues to pump out those great tunes and melodies such as Any Dream Will Do, One More Angel in Heaven, Close Every Door, Go Go Joseph and of course, just so you can sing-a-long and have a bop at the end of the show, there’s the Joseph Megamix and yes, you can get your mobile out and do a bit of filming then too!
Joe McElderry (X-Factor, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat), a former Joseph (check out our YouTube interview) returns this time as the Pharaoh and clearly has a blast, making the most of the short time he gets on stage to whip up the audience excitement levels with his Elvis style number.
Joseph Craig fits nicely into the role of his name sake and delivers well with a lovely rendition of Any Dream Will Do; and Close Every Door particularly going down a storm with the Southend audience.
From the very start you know you’re in for a treat as the band strikes up that familiar score with gusto, and continues to pump out those great tunes and melodies such as Any Dream Will Do, One More Angel in Heaven, Close Every Door, Go Go Joseph and of course, just so you can sing-a-long and have a bop at the end of the show, there’s the Joseph Megamix and yes, you can get your mobile out and do a bit of filming then too!
Joe McElderry (X-Factor, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat), a former Joseph (check out our YouTube interview) returns this time as the Pharaoh and clearly has a blast, making the most of the short time he gets on stage to whip up the audience excitement levels with his Elvis style number.
Joseph Craig fits nicely into the role of his name sake and delivers well with a lovely rendition of Any Dream Will Do; and Close Every Door particularly going down a storm with the Southend audience.
Christina Bianco (Glinda, Wizard of Oz, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice) is the true star of the show though and is an absolute powerhouse of a performer, not only in the role of the Narrator but also taking on other roles along the way, including that of Joseph’s dad Jacob. She delivers such an effortless, energetic and often witty performance, together with some knock out vocals, bringing the role to a whole new level.
The ensemble provide some amazing vocals and energetic dance routines in every number with One More Angel in Heaven and Those Canaan Days being particular highlights.
With fabulous music, colourful costumes and some amazing choreography, this 2 hour show flies by at such a great pace and is enormous fun throughout. You definitely won’t get caught napping - this is one dream you won't want to end.
Go go go see Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Southend’s Cliffs Pavilion playing all this week!
Review: Kim Tobin
The ensemble provide some amazing vocals and energetic dance routines in every number with One More Angel in Heaven and Those Canaan Days being particular highlights.
With fabulous music, colourful costumes and some amazing choreography, this 2 hour show flies by at such a great pace and is enormous fun throughout. You definitely won’t get caught napping - this is one dream you won't want to end.
Go go go see Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Southend’s Cliffs Pavilion playing all this week!
Review: Kim Tobin
INTERVIEW with Joe McElderry who plays Pharoah
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How does it feel to be returning to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat a decade after you first played the lead role?
It's hugely exciting. I spent two years touring, on and off, with Joseph and it was a huge part of my career at the time, as I think it is for anybody who's been fortunate enough to play the role of Joseph or just be a part of the show. It's one of those shows that always sticks with you and people mention it when they stop you in the street. They come up to you and go 'Oh my God, I came to see you in Joseph and I loved it'. When I was asked to return I was slightly anxious because wondered if it would be like stepping back in time, but it's exciting to go back, this time as Pharaoh, and play a different role. I'm nervous but only in terms of just the normal nerves when you take on any new part. But I know the love that the audience brings to Joseph and that it has so many devoted fans and supporters, so I'm happy to be back in that family again. What appealed to you about playing Pharaoh this time around? It's a really fun part of the show, where it almost turns into a little bit of a concert. When Pharaoh comes on everybody kind of goes crazy. It's the big rock moment, and I'm enjoying putting my own spin on it and just having fun with it. You're giving it a bit of Elvis, giving it a bit of arrogance and a bit of tongue-in-cheek sexiness... there are so many aspects to it that you can play around with. |
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What are your memories of that first tour?
I vividly remember the opening night and being incredibly nervous. But then the curtain went up and I remember the warmth from the audience from the very start. Every single night, every performance, no matter where we went across the country, you just felt that feeling in the room. There's something about Joseph and the music and the audience that comes with it that's like a warm hug. I can't really describe it but we felt that all the way through the tour, then I went on a break, returned to the tour the following year and it was the same feeling. It's the same now.
Is it a relief to be wearing more clothes this time round?
[Laughs] Well, you say 'more clothes' but it's not that much more. I'm still baring quite a bit but that's not something that I'm too shy about. I'm an avid runner, which helps me stay in shape, and having just done a busy Christmas schedule in panto also helps to keep the impact of the calories at bay. I like to go for runs wherever I am in the country, although this is the first time I've been on a musical theatre schedule in a few years. I've been touring with my solo stuff and when you do that you're normally in one place for one night, then you leave straight away. The nice thing about being on a schedule where you're in a city for a week or two is that you can explore the place a bit more. I'm going to try and join some park runs because there's nothing better than running around a city. You get to see so many things that you wouldn't if you were just walking to the theatre and back.
What do you think makes Joseph such a classic?
I think it's a lot of people's first memories of theatre, so it comes with a kind of a love and affection from being a child. The great thing about Joseph as well is that it appeals to all ages. There's comedy in there, there's music in there, it's an easy show to follow but it's got some really fun, clever moments in there too. It attracts all ages and it's a great family fun show, and I think if you ask anybody if they remember where they were the first time they saw Joseph it's one of their first introductions into musical theatre, so it's a very important musical to a lot of people.
You came to fame on The X Factor in 2009. How did that show change your life?
Massively. Firstly, it was an amazing stepping stone into the industry and I think it would have been ten times more difficult without the kind of platform and magnitude of viewership of a television show like that. And it has allowed me to have a wonderful career. I've been doing this for 15 years now and I still love it as much as I did back then. Not only that but I've been blessed with such wonderful support from the fans. They turn up to the shows that I'm in, they come to the concerts that I do, they buy the music that I make, and I feel very blessed that I get to do something that I love every day.
Your first single went to number one. That must have been amazing?
I was just excited to be on The X Factor at the time, so then to win it and have my song go to number one was the icing on the cake. I didn't even think that was a possibility, so to hear your song on the radio and have it top the charts was amazing. I'm now nearing that age where I've crossed into a different generation of how people listen to music, but back then you had to go to a shop and buy a single, so it was an an incredible feeling and something that I'll never forget. When I got to be on Top of the Pops that was amazing too, to be on a show that I grew up watching with my family.
You made your musical theatre debut in 2012 in The Who's rock opera Tommy. Had you always wanted to appear in musicals?
I went to performing arts college in Newcastle and studied a bit of everything, from behind-the-scenes stage management to performance and dance. Being a solo singer was my first aim and when the idea of doing musical theatre came up I was a little bit scared at first. I'd come off The X-Factor, I'd released my first two albums and I was just starting to prove myself in the world of music and entertainment. The musical theatre world is a whole different beast, a completely different craft, so I was apprehensive and with the first few things that came along I was like 'I'm not sure if I could do that'. But then Tommy came along, it was a short run, it was something different and there was something that scared me about it being different in a good way. Not long after that, when I was rehearsing for Tommy, the offer came in to play Joseph and it was kind of a natural progression. I was terrified because I thought 'Everybody's gonna think I'm rubbish or wonder if I can do it' but it was one of the best things that I've done because it has opened up so many doors.
What have been your career highlights so far?
Talking about Joseph, we got to do the 50th anniversary celebration performance at the Olivier Awards quite a few years back and it was such a special thing to stand in the Royal Albert Hall and sing with a massive orchestra at the Olivier Awards. That was a huge highlight, along with the obvious things like getting to do my own solo concerts and release albums. I've had so many highlights along the way and it's hard to kind of pinpoint a few, but getting to play my hometown arena was amazing.
When you're touring with a show, is there anything you couldn't be on the road without?
I survive on caffeine pretty much 24/7, so I have to have a coffee machine. I'm pretty low-maintenance, so all I need is coffee, Diet Coke and somewhere where I can get my head down for a nap - whether it's a bed, a mattress or something like that.
Are there any stops on the Jospeh tour that are dear to your heart?
Obviously I'm looking forward to going back home to Newcastle and my leg of the tour starts in Sunderland, and those are the two venues closest to where I was brought up. We're going to Manchester Opera House for two weeks and we're going to the Millennium Centre in Cardiff, and those are such iconic venues. When you hear the orchestra strike up the music in venues like that, or indeed anywhere around the country, you can't help but get goosebumps.
I vividly remember the opening night and being incredibly nervous. But then the curtain went up and I remember the warmth from the audience from the very start. Every single night, every performance, no matter where we went across the country, you just felt that feeling in the room. There's something about Joseph and the music and the audience that comes with it that's like a warm hug. I can't really describe it but we felt that all the way through the tour, then I went on a break, returned to the tour the following year and it was the same feeling. It's the same now.
Is it a relief to be wearing more clothes this time round?
[Laughs] Well, you say 'more clothes' but it's not that much more. I'm still baring quite a bit but that's not something that I'm too shy about. I'm an avid runner, which helps me stay in shape, and having just done a busy Christmas schedule in panto also helps to keep the impact of the calories at bay. I like to go for runs wherever I am in the country, although this is the first time I've been on a musical theatre schedule in a few years. I've been touring with my solo stuff and when you do that you're normally in one place for one night, then you leave straight away. The nice thing about being on a schedule where you're in a city for a week or two is that you can explore the place a bit more. I'm going to try and join some park runs because there's nothing better than running around a city. You get to see so many things that you wouldn't if you were just walking to the theatre and back.
What do you think makes Joseph such a classic?
I think it's a lot of people's first memories of theatre, so it comes with a kind of a love and affection from being a child. The great thing about Joseph as well is that it appeals to all ages. There's comedy in there, there's music in there, it's an easy show to follow but it's got some really fun, clever moments in there too. It attracts all ages and it's a great family fun show, and I think if you ask anybody if they remember where they were the first time they saw Joseph it's one of their first introductions into musical theatre, so it's a very important musical to a lot of people.
You came to fame on The X Factor in 2009. How did that show change your life?
Massively. Firstly, it was an amazing stepping stone into the industry and I think it would have been ten times more difficult without the kind of platform and magnitude of viewership of a television show like that. And it has allowed me to have a wonderful career. I've been doing this for 15 years now and I still love it as much as I did back then. Not only that but I've been blessed with such wonderful support from the fans. They turn up to the shows that I'm in, they come to the concerts that I do, they buy the music that I make, and I feel very blessed that I get to do something that I love every day.
Your first single went to number one. That must have been amazing?
I was just excited to be on The X Factor at the time, so then to win it and have my song go to number one was the icing on the cake. I didn't even think that was a possibility, so to hear your song on the radio and have it top the charts was amazing. I'm now nearing that age where I've crossed into a different generation of how people listen to music, but back then you had to go to a shop and buy a single, so it was an an incredible feeling and something that I'll never forget. When I got to be on Top of the Pops that was amazing too, to be on a show that I grew up watching with my family.
You made your musical theatre debut in 2012 in The Who's rock opera Tommy. Had you always wanted to appear in musicals?
I went to performing arts college in Newcastle and studied a bit of everything, from behind-the-scenes stage management to performance and dance. Being a solo singer was my first aim and when the idea of doing musical theatre came up I was a little bit scared at first. I'd come off The X-Factor, I'd released my first two albums and I was just starting to prove myself in the world of music and entertainment. The musical theatre world is a whole different beast, a completely different craft, so I was apprehensive and with the first few things that came along I was like 'I'm not sure if I could do that'. But then Tommy came along, it was a short run, it was something different and there was something that scared me about it being different in a good way. Not long after that, when I was rehearsing for Tommy, the offer came in to play Joseph and it was kind of a natural progression. I was terrified because I thought 'Everybody's gonna think I'm rubbish or wonder if I can do it' but it was one of the best things that I've done because it has opened up so many doors.
What have been your career highlights so far?
Talking about Joseph, we got to do the 50th anniversary celebration performance at the Olivier Awards quite a few years back and it was such a special thing to stand in the Royal Albert Hall and sing with a massive orchestra at the Olivier Awards. That was a huge highlight, along with the obvious things like getting to do my own solo concerts and release albums. I've had so many highlights along the way and it's hard to kind of pinpoint a few, but getting to play my hometown arena was amazing.
When you're touring with a show, is there anything you couldn't be on the road without?
I survive on caffeine pretty much 24/7, so I have to have a coffee machine. I'm pretty low-maintenance, so all I need is coffee, Diet Coke and somewhere where I can get my head down for a nap - whether it's a bed, a mattress or something like that.
Are there any stops on the Jospeh tour that are dear to your heart?
Obviously I'm looking forward to going back home to Newcastle and my leg of the tour starts in Sunderland, and those are the two venues closest to where I was brought up. We're going to Manchester Opera House for two weeks and we're going to the Millennium Centre in Cardiff, and those are such iconic venues. When you hear the orchestra strike up the music in venues like that, or indeed anywhere around the country, you can't help but get goosebumps.