Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - Milton Keynes Theatre

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is at Milton Keynes Theatre.  Who needs to travel to London when you have West-End quality on your doorstep?  This show is an absolute joy to watch and this cast have so much energy and enthusiasm, you know you are guaranteed a good time.

Way way back, many centuries ago…Joseph is the well-known biblical story about a boy who could interpret dreams.  Joseph is one of twelve children to Jacob, and was Jacob’s favourite son.  After Jacob gives Joseph a multi-coloured coat, his brothers feel this is a step too far and decide to get and sell Joseph as a slave.  Joseph ends up in Egypt and works hard from nothing to become the successful number two of the Pharaoh.  This rags to riches story is about believing in yourself, love and forgiveness.  It’s got feel-good factor all over it.  And talking of factors, it has original X-Factor star, Joe McElderry in it.  Joe has previously played Joseph, but tonight…yes he is in the building.  Joe is playing Elvis…erm I mean Pharoah.  Joe is absolutely amazing in the role.  His voice is stunning and he is really really worth seeing.  I loved him!

Joseph is played by Adam Filipe who gives a wonderful performance.  His likeability is huge and he has a gorgeous voice.  Adam holds the audience in the palm of his hands during Close Every Door which is so emotional.  Christina Bianco plays The Narrator.  She is very talented and has a beautiful voice, but I do wish her diction was a little clearer and she wouldn’t ‘ham it up’ so much.  Not sure if she has been directed to do this but it isn’t necessary.

This fantastic production of Joseph has a very high production value.  Not only are the sets and lighting amazing, especially the jail in ‘close every door’ but the choreography and dancing is just out of this world.  There is even a tap dance and you all know I love a bit of tap.  The Pharoah as Elvis in Vegas opens the second act. and those Cannan days with a can can number is now further along in the show.  I really like this re-working as it gives the show a better flow.  There is a lot of dancing which I also love, but I do have a couple of pet peeves too.  Some of the children in the show are playing the brothers.  These kids are very talented, and it makes sense if you had 12 sons that you would have some who were younger.  However, I hate the kids wearing fake beards.  Let’s see the kids faces and give them the credit they deserve.  While we are on the subject of beards, I didn’t like the Narrator with a beard either.  Nor do I like the Narrator role covering Jacob.  I feel Jacob would be better played by another actor.  Same for Potiphar’s wife.  There are enough cast to share the roles around rather than the Narrator do it all.

The real star of the show is the music.  Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber are geniuses! You may already know Any Dream will do, Close Every Door and Go Go Go Joseph, but I’m sure one of the reasons for the popularity of Joseph are the songs performed in different styles.  One More Angel In Heaven is country, Those Canaan Days is a Parisian style, Benjamin has his own Calypso and of course I have mentioned Pharoah as Elvis.  This is one of my most adored shows.  It’s in my top 5 of most seen shows.  It has a special place in my heart.  At the end of the show as people were leaving, I was standing in the theatre singing every word along with the orchestra (after the cast had left the stage).  I could easily do a one woman show as I know every word.  I think its polite to stay and clap the orchestra who were also outstanding.

This is a dream of a show. Go. Go. Go! Go and see Joseph; you’ll have a good time.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is playing until 10 August 2025.