Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was a bright, colourful and fun start to 2025.
Now playing at the New Theatre, Oxford, this production is a fresh take on Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s multi-award winning show and it comes with some (at times rather confusing) tweaks. The story is the same, and all our favourite tunes were there, The story is the same, and all our favourite tunes were there, Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door, There’s One More Angel in Heaven, and Go, Go, Go, Joseph.
One of the most notable changes in this version of Joseph is the central role of the narrator, played by Christina Bianco. Not only does she take on the titular role of the narrator, but she also plays multiple characters, including Joseph’s father Jacob and Potiphar’s wife. Bianco’s powerful vocals and engaging stage presence added a new dynamic to the show, with her interactions with the audience being a real highlight. Her ability to shift seamlessly between roles brought a fresh perspective to the production, though at times, the changes made the storyline feel a bit disjointed for newcomers to the show.
Adam Filipe, who played Joseph, gave a solid performance. His portrayal captured the character’s charm and optimism, and his voice complemented the uplifting music beautifully. Together with Bianco and the talented supporting cast, they created a fun, lively atmosphere that helped lift the spirits on a cold January evening.
The Plot: A Familiar Story with a New Spin
Based on the biblical story of Joseph from the Book of Genesis, the plot revolves around Joseph, his multicoloured coat, and the jealous anger of his brothers. In this retelling, Jacob gifts Joseph his favourite son a dazzling coat, which sets in motion a series of events that lead to Joseph’s downfall. Betrayed by his brothers and sold to a passing trader as a slave. Joseph remains down on his luck and soon ends up in prison. But when he puts into practice his unique talent of interpreting dreams he is put on a new pathway, destined for greatness and revenge, ultimately leading to his rise to power and his eventual reunion with his family.
While the storyline remains familiar to long-time fans, the revised production introduces several changes that made it a unique experience for viewers. These alterations, such as the inclusion of new dance styles—tap, country, and can-can—added extra energy to the show but, at times, seemed somewhat distracting. For newcomers to the musical, these shifts might make it more challenging to follow the flow of the story, though for seasoned theatre-goers, they injected some fun into the production.
A Playful Pharaoh and a Bold Set Design
The show is definitely a firm favourite with the What’s On Oxon team. We loved the Pharaoh scene – Alex Woodward was great as Pharaoh and very entertaining with his Elvis-style singing. His delivery of the famous Song of the King was a show-stealer, and it was clear that he enjoyed every moment on stage.
The set design was also a highlight; simple but effective. The use of vibrant rainbow colours throughout the performance helped to visually capture the tone of the musical. In particular, Pharaoh’s golden palace was a dazzling feature of the set and added to the overall sense of grandeur.
In fact, we loved all of the music. Mention must go to the wonderful band led by John Rigby (conductor and Musical Director). The band’s energetic performance brought the iconic songs to life, with the orchestra adding an extra layer of richness to the already uplifting score.
Mixed Reactions to the Changes
There were a number of changes have been made to the production, and while the addition of new dance styles and the introduction of children playing several adult roles (including some of Joseph’s brothers) brought fresh elements to the show, these changes were not entirely successful.
The new dance sequences (tap, country and can-can dancing!), while well-executed, didn’t always seem to enhance the production. In fact, at times, they felt somewhat out of place and even made it a little confusing for Joseph first-timers to follow the story.
The second major change was children playing some of the adult roles – the youngsters played several of Joseph’s brothers, Potiphar and the baker and butler. These guys were great, very talented and confident. But again, for us, slightly confusing, particularly those who were more familiar with the original staging of the show.
Overall, we really enjoyed the show; the set was simple, colourful and effective. And we loved how it opened up to create some fabulous scenes.
The Finale: A Triumph
The final moments of the show were a hit with the audience, as the cast launched into an exhilarating megamix of songs, which had the entire audience on their feet dancing, clapping and singing along. It was a joyful, uplifting way to end the performance and left everyone with a smile on their face.
It was a lovely way to spend a cold, dark evening and if you have the January blues, this is definitely a great way to cheer yourself up. For more information or tickets view https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/joseph-and-the-amazing-technicolor-dreamcoat/new-theatre-oxford/
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 2025 UK Tour Information
Performance Dates:
- Tue 7 Jan – Sat 11 Jan 2025
Tickets:
- Available from £59.00
- Subject to a transaction fee of £3.95
Duration:
- 2 hours (including interval)
Venue:
- New Theatre Oxford
- 24-26 George St, Oxford OX1 2AG, UK
- Nearest station: Oxford Railway Station
What the critics say:
- A technicolour delight – METRO
- Sensational – SUNDAY EXPRESS
- A rip-roaring Joseph for the 21st century – THE SUN
Cast:
- Joseph – Adam Filipe
- Narrator – Christina Bianco
- Pharaoh – Southampton Only – Jason Donovan | At selected venues – Joe McElderry | Birmingham Only – Matt Slack
- Swing – Aaron Archer, Oliver Hawes, Nicole Lupino, Bradley Perret, Jenna Warne
- Ensemble – Bella Baldock, Imogen Bowtell, Taylor Bridges, Joseph Browlie-Johnson, Hugh Cotton, Joseph Craig, Davide Fienauri, Ellie Greenway, Will Haswell, Kiera Haynes, Siobhan James, Ben Lancaster, Harvey Shulver, Jessica Sutton, Charley Warburton, Alex Woodward
- Levi & Ensemble – Daniel Bowskill
- Simeon – Will Haswell
- Dan & Ensemble – Harvey Shulver
Young Acting Company:
Luke Beggs, Sofija Bele, Rio Blake-Power, Sidney Bond, Chloe Boyle, Coco Chapman, Isabelle Chiara Dawodu, Charlie Cox, Max Crisp, Shae-Marie David, Josh Desai, Erin Donovan, Jasper Eglin, Safia Francis, Ernest Fransella, Marisia Georgiannaki, Poppy Graham, Coco-Lili Hodder, Leia O’Sullivan, Poppy Kunorubwe, Elliott Marsden, Alex Neophytou, Shyanne Ononiwu, Zachary Richardson, Daniel Rodriguez Castillo, Felix Schmitt, Dexter Seaton, Azalea-Belle Sharp, Arthur Tennant, Raine Williamson
