Living the dream
Jason Donovan’s back in to Brum with the touring production of Joseph... 30 years after first starring in the musical
Is Joseph as much fun to perform in as it is to watch?
Absolutely. It’s such an uplifting show and it feels relevant to the world we’re living in right now to a certain degree, since it’s about overcoming adversity and having selfbelief. It’s part of this country’s DNA in a way and this tour is the West End production put into local theatres so it’s a version of the show many people won’t have seen before.
The London Palladium production was one of the first to open to full capacity after Covid restrictions. What was the atmosphere like?
We were all so emotional about that. It was a difficult and anxious time, of course, because you never quite knew where you stood in terms of testing every day and having to isolate if someone tested positive and you’d been around them. As you can imagine, with theatre that’s very hard but having full houses again was amazing.
This is your third go-round as Pharaoh. What keeps pulling you back in?
There’s so much history with Joseph for me and I was originally asked about recreating the role of Joseph himself. That didn’t come to fruition for a number of reasons and trying to recreate what I’d done in 1991 all these years later with me in my 50s was a bit of a non-starter anyway. But I was keen to be part of it and when the opportunity to play Pharaoh came along I took it without thinking too much about it. It sort of works, you know? The song comes in Act Two and it’s a bit of a show-stealer. Because of my association with the show I think it only increases the value of that moment and makes it more powerful.
You’re still in fantastic shape. What’s your regime?
I wouldn’t say I’m in top physical condition but if I’m going into town I’ll ride my bike and I try and get in a swim and a steam each day. I’m also a bit OCD so I’m always cleaning the house. Going up and down the stairs is enough to keep the fitness levels up to a certain degree.
A lot of people are introduced to Joseph through school productions. Was that the case with you?
I knew the piece but I wasn’t aware of the currency of the show in the UK until I was in it. It’s not really a big title in Australia. It’s known and I hear it may be heading there in the next year or so but it wasn’t big in schools, at least not when I was growing up.
Joseph has been going strong over here since the early ‘70s. Why do you think audiences still love it?
It’s a very simple show with a very clear message. It was Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s first real outing as writers and that sort of greatness is often born out of raw talent. [Laughs] When I first heard Any Dream Will Do I thought it was a cheesy lullaby but everyone told me if I recorded it it would be a massive hit. I didn’t believe them but to this day I can go out and sing it at one of those retro festivals like Rewind and Let’s Rock and the place goes nuts. And it’s not kids who are going nuts, it’s adults.
Jac Yarrow plays Joseph now. Having originally played the role yourself, how do you rate him as a performer?
He’s a very well-polished performer. He’s incredibly talented and he’s a great singer, and he’s got a lot of energy. It’s a different show to the one I did back in the ‘90s. It’s hard to compare the two and it’s hard to compare the two of us as performers, but he’s a great guy and I think the innocence and the spirit of Joseph is not only in the character but also in the person who is playing him. I’d like to think that back in the day I had my feet firmly on the ground and that I had the country behind me when I did that show. And I think Jac is a very humble and good person, which is the sort of personality the role requires.
You’ve done lots of musical theatre since the ‘90s. What have been your favourites?
The musical that was a magical moment for me was Priscilla Queen of the Desert [in 2009]. It was such an incredible production and they spent so much money on the bus, the set and the costumes. There have been certain times in my career where I’ve looked around and gone ‘Wow! I’m in a different league here! This is as good as it’s gonna get’. The Rocky Horror Show was another good one.
Looking back on your early pop career, what are your highlights from that time?
It was a dream come true for me to have a number one single in this country, the year’s biggest selling album and to be meeting people I’d looked up to. I think once people hear a song that’s sort of the soundtrack to them growing up – like Too Many Broken Hearts, Especially for You and Any Dream Will Do, which are my three biggest hits – it becomes part of their lives. Those songs to this day are keeping me alive and ultimately I think that’s why singers want pop hits because they never leave you.
Did you ever imagine you’d become a national treasure in the UK?
No because in Australia, America is a bigger part of our entertainment sphere. Coming to Britain was never part of the plan but it quickly became the plan. The opportunity was enormous and I took it.
■ Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat comes to Birmingham Hippodrome from April 5-16. birminghamhippodrome.com