In glorious technicolour
Joseph and his dreamcoat return
The classic production Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is set to return to local theatres.
A cast from South Africa will arrive in April to perform the biblical musical in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
The feel-good musical, adapted from the Book of Genesis, told the story of Joseph’s underdog rise to success, despite his scheming brothers. It has been performed on Broadway and more than four times in the past two decades at Auckland Live’s venues, a spokeswoman said. Since its first showing in 1970, it has been performed more than 20,000 times worldwide, the play’s licenser Really Useful Group estimated.
Earl Gregory, who will lead the tour playing Joseph, said despite the play having been performed so much, it was still worth going. It was, he said, the Jurassic Park of theatre – a true classic.
‘‘As much as there are new and exciting things, people are drawn back to the classics,’’ Gregory said.
Gregory himself has performed the show more than 300 times, he said. He even says he wasn’t bored of it yet.
‘‘There are a lot of gags that the adults can identify with and enjoy and there’s stuff that the kids find hysterical too,’’ he said.
One woman has viewed the performance 29 times in South Africa. She simply loved it, he said.
But what kept this woman coming back to see this Lloyd Webber musical night after night – especially during a time when media of all sorts constantly battle for our time? Gregory said it was ‘‘escapism’’.
‘‘People need that,’’ he said. And The Technicolour Dreamcoat, a story about accomplishment and following your dreams, had what the people need.
‘‘As much as we say the show is reimagined for new generations – yes it is aimed at younger audiences – what makes this show is its timeless theme,’’ Gregory said.
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat will be in city theatres this April and May. The Opera House, Wellington, from May 17; The Civic, Auckland, from April 15; Issac Theatre Royal, Christchurch, from May 10.