Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat is touring the UK, with stops scheduled for Swansea, Hull and Newcastle.

The show retells the biblical story of Joseph, his brothers and the coat with many colors. Audiences are treated to the show’s beloved songs, including “Close Every Door To Me,” “Any Dream Will Do,” and “One More Angel.”

The musical is the brainchild of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, who created the show in 1967. The first performance of the musical was held on 1st March 1968 at the Old Assembly Hall in Colet Court in Hammersmith. It lasted just 15 minutes, and was accompanied by the school orchestra.

Despite its short runtime, the show was a major success, and a second show was planned for 12th May 1968 in Westminster. The crowd of about 2,500 people included Derek Jewell, a critic for The Sunday Times. Jewell saw the show, and wrote a positive review in the paper.

Another performance was scheduled for November of that year at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The show was expanded to include new songs, such as “Potiphar.”

A family-friendly story, the show has little spoken dialogue. Almost the entire story is told through song. The show has been revived several times throughout its history, and by 2008, more than 20,000 amateur theatres and schools had staged productions of the show.

Andrew Lloyd Webber uses a wide range of musical styles in his production, from French ballads to Elvis-style rock-and-roll, jazz and Calypso.

The new UK tour’s cast will include:

  • Joe McElderry as Joseph. Joe won the sixth series of the X Factor, and his first single “The Climb” peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart. He has released five, top 20 albums. He has also appeared in the musical The Who’s Tommy.
  • Benjamin James-Ellis as Pharoah. Benjamin starred as Link Larkin in West End’s Hairspray from 2007 though 2009. He was also a contestant on Any Dream Will Do.
  • Trina Hill as narrator.
  • Henry Metcalfe as Jacob/Potiphar.
  • Sallie-Beth Lawless as Mrs. Potiphar/Handmaiden.
  • Matt Jolly as Brother/Frenchman.
  • Tatenda Madamombe as Brother/Calypso.
  • Adam Strong as Brother and understudy for Pharoah.
  • Joseph Peacock as Brother/Benjamin.
  • Ben Beechey as Brother/One More Angel.
  • Michael Lapham as Brother and understudy for Benjamin.
  • Rob Wilshaw as Brother and understudy for Joseph.
  • Richard J. Hunt as Brother/Baker
  • Will Breckin as Brother
  • Anna Campkin as Handmaiden and understudy for Narrator.
  • Gemma Pipe as Handmaiden.