Theatre Review: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at Bristol Hippodrome
Photography by Tristam Kenton
Summary
A family-friendly, musical retelling of the story of Joseph from the Book of Genesis; his family, his trials and tribulations and his amazing technicolor dreamcoat!
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Running Dates: Wednesday 12th March 2025 - Saturday 22nd March 2025
Where to see it: Bristol Hippodrome
Duration: 2 hours (including 20 minute interval)
Keywords: Fun, family, familiar
Review
I arrived home after seeing the show and talked my partners ear off for about 40 minutes about how amazing the show was: the songs, the dancing, the narrator, the humour, Jason Donovan, the film version of the show, Donny Osmond, the reality show ‘Any Dream Will Do’, Lee Mead. It dawned on me just how much a part of my life this show has been.
My Mum showed me the film version of the musical with Donny Osmond in it when I was younger and I was instantly hooked! Growing up, I would stand in my childhood living room, with my Mum’s hot hair styling brush as a substitute microphone, belting out the songs and wholeheartedly wishing for the day where I would be discovered and cast as the narrator! I was in awe of Maria Friedman and how she played that role, seamlessly telling the story of Joseph through song, her voice so powerful and her charisma undeniable.
Having such fond memories of something from childhood can be a detriment. You ask yourself “Will it live up to the hype and the nostalgia I have? Will I enjoy it as much?”. As my partner can attest to after listening to my Joseph related zoomies for the best part of an hour, the show was incredible!
Photography by Tristam Kenton
The thing I always loved about Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and what makes it so unique is the variety of music genres in the show. There are songs in the style of rock & roll, country, jazz, calypso, 1970’s go-go and my personal favourite, a parody of French ballads. It is also a sung-through musical so there is no dialogue and the narrator takes us from song to song, scene to scene, all in song. I think it’s what makes the musical so fun - it bounces, perfectly orchestrated with highs and lows of musicality. The songs are classics as well - I think you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t heard “Any Dream Will Do” in their lifetime.
In this iteration of the show, the cast is truly incredible! They brought the songs to life, their voices were so powerful and versatile. Joe McElderry, of X Factor fame, starred as Pharaoh and did a great job of putting on the Elvis-persona and providing a bit of light relief. Adam Felipe played the main protagonist Joseph and he was absolutely brilliant. His voice, particularly in “Close Every Door”, was exceptional, and you could tell that he was really enjoying his time on stage.
However, much like when I watched the film all those years ago, the standout performance was from the narrator, in this case played by Christina Bianco. It’s not quite right to say “performance” because she played about 6 different characters throughout the show, covering some bit parts that probably weren’t worth casting for, and she devoured each one. Her voice is breathtaking, there was such control and ease in her vocals and she told the story so beautifully.
The rest of the supporting cast were excellent too. The brothers were hilarious, they had great chemistry and their voices blended well, something which really shone in “Those Canan Days” (my personal favourite song in the whole musical). I was impressed by the choreography too and the fact that it mirrored the variety of the songs with a mixture of dancing styles including tap dance, cheerleading, fosse and a can-can!
Visually, Joseph is stunning too, so if you are visually stimulated like I am, there is so much to see here! The sets were simple but impressive, a mixture of bold colours to mimic Joseph’s coat and clever use of props to bring the stage alive. I especially liked the “Egypt” set painted in all gold and embellished with large hieroglyphics. The costumes were wonderful as well, the wives can-can skirts and golden Egyptian garments were beautifully made and the coat of many colours had its own flare and uniqueness.
Overall, you really can’t go wrong here. When the product is as good as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat , you have to buy in. It’s a classic for a reason - it’s family-friendly, it’s cheeky, it’s never boring and the songs are incredible. Put your bright colours on and head to the Hippodrome for the best night you’ll have all year!
Standout Quote or Moment: “Those Canan Days” - simply one of the best musical songs ever written and a true standout in an otherwise “bouncy” musical.
See If: You like musicals - there is seriously no dialogue so you really need to like musicals!
Similar Plays/Musicals: Jesus Christ Superstar is as close as you’ll get, there isn’t anything else like it!
Last Impression: “The Narrator” is one of the best roles in any musical ever made and still one of the best musicals of all time.
Not got a ticket yet? Change all your plans this week and get your tickets to the show here!
Written by Amy Evans
Disclaimer: We were kindly gifted these tickets in exchange for a review. The review also contains affiliate links.