The Storyhouse in Chester have done it again. They have managed to deliver yet another incredible show worthy of the West End in a city that until recently hadn’t had a theatre for years, yet is now becoming the place to be for some of the best touring shows across the country and this time it is the world renowned Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
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When we first got invited over to the Storyhouse Chester to review Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat I was so excited because this show was my very first experience of a musical when I was a child and it has stayed with me ever since. I remember it being such a treat to go to the theatre with my Mum and my Nana and probably an even bigger treat to be so close to Jason Donavon! So the thought of getting to see it again as an adult was truly exciting, especially as it coincided with our wedding anniversary, making it the perfect child free date night.
For those of you, who like me, have forgotten the main plot it’s about Joseph, his 11 brothers, their dad Jacob, some rather interesting dreams, and of course the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Despite forgetting the plot it turns out I never actually forgot the songs and when the classics like Any Dream will do filled the theatre I found myself singing along without missing a word and all the nostalgia from my childhood came rushing back.
Joseph is played by Union J’s Jaymi Hensley who was not put off by having incredible shoes (or coat) to fill following the likes of Jason Donavon and Philip Schofield and he more than proves he was the right person for the role, portraying Joseph in a modern and relatable way with a voice that will have you swooning every time he sings.
Alongside Joseph was an unexpected main character as unlike most musicals this one has a narrator, Trina Hill, who brings the whole performance together through songs. She literally sings everything from start to finish which is ridiculously impressive and makes the whole performance transition from one scene to the next seamlessly.
For me the star of the show was Henry Metcalfe who plays Jacob, Joseph’s dad. I don’t know how he did it but he had me believing that he believed he was genuinely Jacob, he was so realistic and not once did he look like he was acting just simply being. Every time he was on stage I was captivated by his performance and the grief he showed in one particular scene was palpable in the whole auditorium, just amazing.
Now obviously musicals are done and re done many times over and with each new tour come a few changes, the writers and directors way of putting their own stamp on things if you will, and this show is no different. With the biggest most noticeable change being to the pharaoh who has most definitely had a make over since the last time I watched this show. The pharaoh is played by Andrew Geater who we have been lucky enough to see before in Beauty and the Beast at St.Helens and who once again brought the character to life in a way that makes the audience fall in love with him, from his beautiful voice to his sometimes questionable dance moves he makes for a charming updated version of the pharaoh which will have you laughing in your seats.
The entire cast were phenomenal and the whole audience were engrossed from the start but I think everyone who watches this will agree that the Joseph choir, made up of children from the Stagecoach school in Chester did themselves proud. Not only did they deliver outstanding performances but unlike any show I have seen before the choir remained on stage for the entire performance and not once did I spot any moving, talking, twitching or anything that resembled anything less that pure professionalism which for school aged children I think is extremely impressive.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat at the Storyhouse Chester is a show that must be watched to truly be appreciated, there are no words that can accurately portray who incredible it was but I think the standing ovation it received at the end followed by so much singing and dancing by the audience speaks volumes. It will be a show that will b talked about for many years to come and with only two more days available in Chester left I urge you to book your tickets now.
If you love a good theatre production then check out our reviews of the following shows: Annie at the Storyhouse in Chester, Zog for Children and Pinnochio in Liverpool. Or check out our latest blog post on things to do in Chester with kids.
(We were supplied with two complimentary tickets to the Storyhouse Chester in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own).