A brand-new production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat begins a UK & Ireland Tour at Manchester Opera House on Wednesday 23 March.
Alexandra Burke will play The Narrator at select venues across the tour and Linzi Hateley will also play the role at other venues.
Jason Donovan will reprise his role as Pharaoh, which he performed at the London Palladium in 2019 and 2021. He was originally in the show when he made his defining stage performance as the title character of Joseph in the 1990s, in a sold-out 18-month run which produced a No.1 single and best-selling soundtrack album. Jason raised the roof of the London Palladium during the show’s 2019 and 2021 engagements as Pharaoh, who rocks ‘Song of the King’ in the musical.
The role of Pharaoh will be played by Bobby Windebank at the venues across the tour where Jason Donovan does not perform. Bobby was part of the 2021 company when the show played the season at the London Palladium.
Jac Yarrow prepares to don the famous coat in the titular role on tour, having caused a sensation when he made his professional stage debut playing Joseph, following in the footsteps of a line of stars who have previously played the title character. His portrayal of Joseph won him unanimous acclaim and an Olivier Award nomination, with his rendition of ‘Close Every Door To Me’ regularly stopping the show with standing ovations.
The full company includes ERICA JAYNE ALDEN, SHANE ANTONY-WHITELY, NATALIE BENNYWORTH, JABARI BRAHAM, BEN BROOKER, GEMMA BUCKINGHAM, THALIA BURT, MEG DARCY, ALEXANDER DAY, TYLER EPHRAIM, IVÁN FERNÁNDEZ GONZÁLEZ, ZAC FRIEZE, MATT GIBSON, WILL HAWKSWORTH, SAMUEL JOHN-HUMPHREYS, CLAIRE LANDER, ABBIE PLATTS, NATHAN RIGG, ROCHELLE SHERONA, SAMANTHA SHUMA, SAM STONES and HOLLY WILLOCK.
The young actors are TOMMY ADAMS, AVA BELLE ALEXANDER, HECTOR BALDWIN, KELSEY BALLA, ZACH BENT, DYLAN BROOKS, MEI CHIU, ESME CONNOLLY, HETTIE CONNOLLY, BRYSON DEKKER, PHOEBE EASOM, JAX FENNER, LUCA FOSTER-LEJEUNE, MAX GARLICK, LOLA GREEN, BELLA HARDING, LUKE JURY, MATEO LECHEA, NAOMI LIM, OCEAN MONILAL, TORYN O’CALLAGHAN, MATILDA O’SULLIVAN, BLYTHE RAILTON, ROXY RELF, HOLLY-JADE ROBERTS, EDEN ROWE, NANDINI SHARMA, POPPY MEI SOON, HALLE STEVENS, JOSHUA WAHAB, BUDDY WAY, LILI WHITEHOUSE.
Released as a concept album in 1969, the stage version of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has become one of the world’s most beloved family musicals. The multi-award-winning show, which began life as a small-scale school concert, has been performed hundreds of thousands of times including multiple runs in the West End and on Broadway, international number one tours, and productions in over 80 countries as far afield as Austria and Zimbabwe and from Israel to Peru! The show features songs that have gone on to become pop and musical theatre standards, including Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door To Me, Jacob and Sons, There’s One More Angel In Heaven and Go Go Go Joseph.
Told entirely through song with the help of the Narrator, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat follows the story of Jacob’s favourite son Joseph and his eleven brothers. After being sold into hardship by the brothers, he ingratiates himself with Egyptian noble Potiphar, but ends up in jail after refusing the advances of Potiphar’s wife. While imprisoned, Joseph discovers his ability to interpret dreams, and he soon finds himself in front of the mighty but troubled showman, the Pharaoh. As Joseph strives to resolve Egypt’s famine, he becomes Pharaoh’s right-hand man and eventually reunites with his family.
MANCHESTER
STARRING: Alexandra Burke, Jason Donovan and Jac Yarrow
Manchester Opera House 23 Mar 2022 – 2 Apr 2022
BIRMINGHAM
STARRING: Alexandra Burke, Jason Donovan & Jac Yarrow
Birmingham Hippodrome 5 Apr 2022 – 16 Apr 2022
SOUTHAMPTON
STARRING: Alexandra Burke, Jason Donovan and Jac Yarrow
Mayflower Theatre 19 Apr 2022 – 23 Apr 2022
PLYMOUTH
STARRING: Alexandra Burke & Jac Yarrow
Theatre Royal Plymouth 26 Apr 2022 – 30 Apr 2022
CARDIFF
STARRING: Alexandra Burke & Jac Yarrow
New Theatre 3 May 2022 – 14 May 2022
NEWCASTLE
STARRING: Linzi Hateley, Jason Donovan & Jac Yarrow
Theatre Royal 24 May 2022 – 4 Jun 2022
LIVERPOOL
STARRING: Linzi Hateley, Jason Donovan & Jac Yarrow
Empire Theatre 6 Jun 2022 – 11 Jun 2022
GLASGOW
STARRING: Linzi Hateley, Jason Donovan & Jac Yarrow
King’s Theatre 14 Jun 2022 – 25 Jun 2022
ABERDEEN
STARRING: Linzi Hateley and Jac Yarrow
His Majesty’s Theatre 28 Jun 2022 – 2 Jul 2022
LEEDS
STARRING: Linzi Hateley, Jason Donovan & Jac Yarrow
Grand Theatre 12 Jul 2022 – 23 Jul 2022
BLACKPOOL
STARRING: Linzi Hateley, Jason Donovan & Jac Yarrow
Opera House 25 Jul 2022 – 30 Jul 2022
WOKING
STARRING: Linzi Hateley & Jac Yarrow
New Victoria Theatre 2 Aug 2022 – 6 Aug 2022
DUBLIN
STARRING: Linzi Hateley & Jac Yarrow
Bord Gais Energy Theatre 9 Aug 2022 – 27 Aug 2022
BRISTOL
STARRING: Linzi Hateley, Jason Donovan & Jac Yarrow
Bristol Hippodrome 30 Aug 2022 – 10 Sep 2022
MILTON KEYNES
STARRING: Alexandra Burke & Jac Yarrow
Milton Keynes Theatre 12 Sep 2022 – 24 Sep 2022
SOUTHEND
STARRING: Alexandra Burke, Jason Donovan & Jac Yarrow
Cliffs Pavilion 26 Sep 2022 – 1 Oct 2022
BRADFORD
STARRING: Alexandra Burke & Jac Yarrow
Alhambra Theatre 17 Oct 2022 – 22 Oct 2022
EDINBURGH
STARRING: Alexandra Burke, Jason Donovan & Jac Yarrow
Edinburgh Playhouse 25 Oct 2022 – 29 Oct 2022