12 minute read
Technicolour Dreams
A Technicolor Delight
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The sensational brand-new production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat comes to Milton Keynes Theatre for two weeks this month.
The multi award-winning show has been performed in over 80 countries worldwide and has become one of the world’s most beloved family musicals.
With stars from The London Palladium Alexandra Burke and Jac Yarrow, the show features songs that have gone on to become pop and musical theatre classics, including Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door to Me, There’s One More Angel in Heaven and Go, Go, Go Joseph.
We caught up with Jac Yarrow (Joseph) who talks gym, Jason Donovan and touring.
Joseph is such a fun, upbeat musical. Is that what we all need right now?
Oh my gosh, 100% yes. When we did it at the London Palladium our favourite shows to do would always be the Saturday or Sunday matinees because we’d get the crowds from all over the UK, not just the London crowds. To be able take this show to the regional theatres that have been closed for so long is just the tonic everybody needs. And particularly this incarnation of Joseph, which is the same production you got at the Palladium. It’s lavish and noexpense-sparred, and it’s really going to lift everyone’s spirits.
You first played the title role in 2019. How did that change your life?
It completely changed my life. I was still at drama school when I got the part and it was literally over the course of two or three days that I went from getting the role to it being announced. I went from being a student living in digs dreaming of being in the West End to suddenly living that dream for real.
You returned to the show again last year and now you’re touring in it. What keeps drawing you back?
It’s massively to do with the fans of the show. It has such an amazing fanbase and it’s ingrained in people’s DNA in the UK. Everybody knows the music and everybody’s grown up with it, even if they’re not aware of where it comes from. People come along and see the show all the time and go: ‘I didn’t realise that song was in it. I love that song and I used to sing it in school.’ I’m thrilled to keep coming back to it for that reason, plus to pass up the opportunity to take this incredible, up-to-date production that changed my life to people’s hometowns would have been crazy.
The show is a perennial school favourite. Were you in any school productions yourself?
I wasn’t in a school production as such but when I was around ten I was in a 30-minute condensed version of Joseph at my Saturday drama school. I did play Joseph himself but I don’t think I had a dreamcoat, just a makeshift little jacket or something. That was my only brush with the show as a kid, although I did see it later when it came to my hometown of Cardiff. I remember really enjoying it and it’s going to be a nice full-circle when I go back to the New Theatre and am on that stage myself.
Can you relate to Joseph in any way?
Yes, especially when I first started. There was the naivety and moving from the home comforts of Cardiff myself and Egypt in his case. It was like somebody flipped a switch and everything turned Technicolor. [Laughs] But my family isn’t as big as his and they certainly treat me a lot nicer.
Do you hit the gym to make sure you look good in the shirtless scenes?
Doing eight shows a week where I’m constantly running around keeps me in pretty good shape but I go to the gym, I eat well and I drink a lot of water - but that’s the stuff you have to do anyway when you’re doing such a full-on show as this.
Jason Donovan, who now stars as Pharaoh, played Joseph in 1991. How is it following in his footsteps?
It’s great. From day one Jason has been the most supportive person. I was terrified when I had to sing Close Every Door in front of him at rehearsal but he’s been amazing. He was the first person to throw his arms around me, congratulate me and give me the boost that I needed early on. Now we have such a laugh. He’s such a fun guy and he’s another reason why I wanted to go on tour with the show, because who better to do that with than Jason Donovan?
Might you play Pharaoh yourself one day?
This is the joke we always make. You could do Joseph forever because you could graduate from Joseph himself to Pharaoh and then you could finally move on to Jacob.
The West End production was one of the first to open to full capacity after social-distancing restrictions. What was the atmosphere like?
It was unbelievable. The atmosphere at Joseph is amazing anyway because of the fans and the way the Palladium is figured it’s such an intimate space, even though it’s huge. Then when the restrictions were lifted and we had full houses it was unbelievable. It’s such a tonic and, as I say, just the kind of show people want to see to lift their spirits. We were all emotional and it was quite overwhelming.
Joseph has been going strong since the early 70s. Why do you think audiences still love it?
I think it’s just timeless and, as Jason always says, it’s a very simple story. What you see is what you get and what you get is a really good time. It’s a wholesome tale about a boy overcoming adversity and it encourages you to follow your dreams. The message is so uplifting and it’s one of those shows that continues from generation to generation. We get people at the stage door saying to Jason ‘You were my Joseph when I was a kid’ and then I meet kids at the stage door and their mums say ‘This is their first time seeing it’ so I’m their Joseph. And it’s such a famous show that it’s kind of ingrained in everybody. It’s a huge part of our theatrical culture in the UK.
The Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice score is full of great songs. Do you have a favourite to perform?
Definitely Close Every Door and I love Go, Go, Go Joseph because we have an amazing cast and they’re all on stage for that one. It’s a huge production number and I think that’s what is so exciting about taking this particular incarnation of Joseph around the country because it’s like we’re taking the West End production to everyone.
What have been your other favourite in-betweenJoseph stage roles?
I’ve been lucky to have taken part in some concerts and some TV stuff as well, and I’ve loved doing panto. My first panto was in Birmingham in 2019, then I was in panto at the Palladium this Christmas just gone with another Joseph, namely Donny Osmond. I love doing panto for the same reason I love doing Joseph, because you get an amazing audience response and it’s such fun and so entertaining.
The Cher Show plays at Milton Keynes Theatre from Monday 12th September to Saturday 25th September. Tickets are available from
www.atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes
STARS
Manish Kumar Arora (K.P. Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Card Reader & Vastu Consultant) reveals what’s in store for you this month
Virgo (23 August – 22 September) You may find great joy and reward in your creative projects and hobbies. Pleasure-seeking activities, recreation, and amusement are increased. You might meet somebody who deepens your intimate life in wonderful ways, opening you up to new ways of expressing yourself intimately; or those of you who are already attached might deepen their relationship similarly. Relationships with others tend to be easygoing, friendly, and positive. Favourable Dates: September 3, 6, 12, 15, 21, 24 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Grey
Libra (23 September – 22 October)
You have some good energy with you to express yourself creatively and originally, and your personal magnetism runs high. You can be very resourceful when it comes to recycling or using what you already own in different ways. Financial support in the form of loans or shared resources tends to be easier to come by, but it will be important to watch your borrowing habits.
Favourable Dates: September 1, 6, 10, 15, 19, 24 Favourable Colours: White & Purple
Scorpio (23 October – 21 November)
You will dig deep into true motives and feelings about practical matters, and you have the chance to come to a harmonious position or stance. Money matters are significantly improved. Even so, you may be downsizing with personal possessions and going through restructuring, possibly putting some business projects to rest. Partnerships fare better than more casual love relationships, the latter being a bit of a wild card in your life right now.
Favourable Dates: September 3, 6, 12, 15, 24, 30 Favourable Colours: White & Yellow
Sagittarius (22 November -21 December)
You are likely to make changes in your life that break you out of your usual routines. You may make little changes to your personal appearance or to your mannerisms that reflect the changes going on inside. A desire to live in a more free-spirited manner is with you in this month. This can be a natural time for introspection and the hatching of plans; while you may tend to push forward with more confidence next month.
Favourable Dates: September 7, 8, 16, 16, 25, 26 Favourable Colours: Red & White
Capricorn (22 December – 19 January)
You can feel a stronger desire to succeed all on your own. You want to achieve on your own merits, but you also recognize the need for others or outside resources and talents so that you can excel. You may pick up a brand-new study this month. Exposure to new ideas open up new worlds to you. Your fair share of fun, romance, and good times are in store.
Favourable Dates: September 2, 5, 11, 14, 20, 23 Favourable Colours: Blue & White
Aquarius (20 January – 18 February)
You are likely to see benefits, and experience growth, in the areas of romance, pleasure, creative expression, hobbies, entertainment, and children. Your fair share of fun, romance, and good times are in store. Your willingness to enjoy yourself and explore your creativity now brings new opportunities, New depths can be experienced and add to your inner glow. Love matters should be quite strong with significant partnerships a great focus.
Favourable Dates: September 7, 9, 16, 18, 25, 27 Favourable Colours: Red & White
Pisces (19 February – 20 March)
You are more willing than usual to work diligently for money, and your natural talents are likely to be utilized more in the work you do and appreciated by others. However, you also realize that too much emphasis on the importance of material possessions can work against you in the long run. You may also try to put more value in the intangibles in life. Connecting intimately with another person boosts your sense of security.
Favourable Dates: September 3, 8, 12, 17, 21, 26 Favourable Colours: Yellow & White
Aries (21 March – 19 April)
You can be making significant changes as you come to a better understanding of what it is you can and want to do in your work. You’ll also discover some of your most natural talents and put them to work for you. The focus now is on really enjoying what you do. This is a month in which you are more likely to establish, or solidify, a significant partnership; or you could be enhancing an existing relationship.
Favourable Dates: September 4, 7, 13, 16, 22, 25 Favourable Colours: Brown & Purple
Taurus (20 April – 20 May)
This is a time for putting yourself out there and for meeting your responsibilities. You are pointed in the direction of learning and mental endeavors. This phase enhances your ability to handle the details required to do a good job, and others become more aware of your skills. You are far less inhibited when it comes to expressing yourself creatively, and you are a lot more fun to be around!
Favourable Dates: September 4, 5, 13, 14, 22, 23 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Purple
Gemini (21 May – 20 June)
You are likely to see benefits in the areas of work and health, as well as daily routines. Love and romance may come into your life or an existing romance is enhanced with good humor and warmth. You might find that possibilities for casual love relationships open up to you now and some of you could be overwhelmed with choices. Your life is livelier than usual, but not hectic, and this allows you to enjoy yourself.
Favourable Dates: September 3, 6, 12, 15, 21, 24 Favourable Colours: Blue & White
Cancer (21 June – 22 July)
This is a feel-good month that offers you opportunities to rise above petty concerns and to achieve a more balanced approach to your life. Relationships with others tend to be easygoing, friendly, and positive. Acquaintances, siblings, or casual friends and communications may be catalysts for this new self-expression. This is a time when you really enjoy life, appreciating the good things and rarely harping on the more inconvenient or annoying elements of life.
Favourable Dates: September 1, 8, 10, 17, 19, 26 Favourable Colours: Red & Brown
Leo (23 July – 22 August)
This is an excellent time to work on financial planning and strategy. You are more capable of helping friends and loved ones who are dealing with a crisis – you can be leaned upon. Your ability to understand and accept anything that is deep in meaning or significant is enhanced now, and you instinctively realize that the path to healing is to face your fears. Committed relationships add spark in your life.
