Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat – Wednesday 24th July
Go, go, go Joseph! Astravaganza Entertainment have their most recent venture on once again at the stunning The Exchange 1856 this week and boy is it a showstopper. The venue once again is a beautiful, modern space and is fairly intimate too. It is filled with all the best modern technology to give the show a real upto date twist and the space, although small, upon the stage was used incredibly well.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is such an amazing show and this company have wasted no time after coming off the back of Beauty and the Beast in June. I even recognised a few familiar faces who were in the production. Back to back shows cannot be easy but you would never be able to tell from what we saw upon the stage last night. The vision of the producer, Liam Glendinning and the director, David Ducasse really came to life through clear, meticulous vision which their cast delivered so well last night.
The music and band were in the very capable hands of John Hudson, a real talent of the North East, who had led so many amateur shows all across the area. The sound was really well balanced although I would have loved to hear the children a little more in some areas.
Gina Faed was our Narrator for the evening and led our whole show. She began with the Prologue which just showcased her voice and acting ability perfectly. She had such a crystal clear voice which was perfect for this role. Not only did she sound amazing she looked truly beautiful as well. Her relationship with the children on stage was just lovely to see. She really never skipped a beat and had a very professional manner to her performance.
The children’s ensemble were so wonderful and you could see the pride on the faces of the parents around the room. I loved the use of a variety of props throughout, the small lights, the pom poms and the different costumed characters. I loved the camels and the adorable goat.
Joseph himself was portrayed perfectly by Christopher Perry. All I can say is, wow. I was absolutely blown away by that voice. Silky smooth with undeniable power which filled every corner of the venue. When he sang Close Every Door to Me I had goosebumps. Honestly, if I saw that performance in a West End venue I would be over the moon. What a talent! He gave such lightness to his performance in the beginning but was able to switch and give us the depth and darkness we needed throughout the second half. Exceptional singing and acting in such a challenging role.
The brothers of Joseph all worked so well as a team and you could just see how much fun they were having. It was lovely to see a real mix of ages as well as this will really encourage the performances of some of the younger cast learning from the older ones. Their songs were just wonderful, especially One More Angel in Heaven, Those Canaan Days and Benjamin’s Calypso. Three iconic songs from the show anyway as they incorporate different music styles. I loved the backdrops on the interactive screen for these as well as they’re based in the Saloon and Paris – a quick pit stop from Egypt. So much fun. Their singing was so powerful when they sang in unison adding some brilliant harmonies.
Corey Clarke was such a stand out performer for me as he delivered One More Angel in Heaven with the most beautiful country voice but also adding such brilliant comedy through his performance. As the Butler he was just hilarious and every time he took to the stage I couldn’t take my eyes off of him even when he was right at the back. Total star quality. The Pharaoh played by Gareth Lilley was also brilliant with his perfect Elvis impersonation.
I loved the use of lighting throughout as well. Props to the lighting team – Adam Roff at North East Theatre Supplies particularly during the iconic Joseph’s Coat where the lighting matched with the colours of the song. Such a lovely touch.
The costuming provided by Charades Theatrical Costume Hire was perfectly fitting for the show. Bright, colorful and exciting to match the performances on stage. I loved the children’s white dungarees and bright t-shirts too- simple but super effective.
A final mention has to go to the choreography which was dynamic and exciting to watch on stage. A superb job by Bekka Whaley who brought her vision to life on stage. There were some challenging numbers to choreograph and so many different styles of dancing which the ensemble took in their stride.
What an amazing evening at The Exchange 1856 in North Shields. The whole cast and creative should feel incredibly proud of the amazing performance they put on last night. Get your tickets now- you will not regret it!
Review by Robyn McGough