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Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Author: Catherine Dixey

Information

Date
15th July 2023
Society
The CTC
Venue
The Corn Exchange, Ipswich
Type of Production
Musical
Director
Bridie Rowe
Musical Director
Jade Tournay-Godfrey
Choreographers
Heidi Fox & Rosie Fuller
Assistant Director
Madeleine Mears

This iconic production has lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. It is always a firm favorite, and as  Andrew says “ It’s was written for schools and it’s great that schools continue to do it.” Cameron Mackintosh  says “It’s timeless; it delights children”.  I’m sure they would have approved of  CTC ‘s  amazing production.   It is taken from the biblical story of Joseph, his 11 brothers and his father Jacob. However the production we see now is bang up to date and encompasses lots of different styles from  modern day school children taking ‘selfies’   to country and western, Caribbean  and back to ancient Egypt.

Tyreese Ross plays the title role of Joseph. He excels in this role, capturing the character perfectly, in a believable and natural way.  The other 2  main leads, who never leave the stage, are Evie Capon and Maisie Fulcher, who narrate the story, most of which is sung through with some amazing singing from them both.   Special mention should also go to Wilfred Kemsley playing Pharaoh giving us a fabulous, comic Elvis Presley styled performance. There were excellent performances from the 11 brothers all portraying their individual characters, along with Jacob and Mrs Potiphar.

We have to remember that this was a youth production with a cast of 55 ranging in age from 6 to 21. There were 14 members of the ensemble and with the youngest children in the 22 strong choir who all sang their hearts out. There are so many memorable songs and the quality of the singing from all was superb under the brilliant guidance of Jade Tournay-Godfrey with her fabulous 9 piece orchestra.  The choreography was innovative and looked so effective. In the song Joseph’s Coat, the cast not only sang and danced but all the words were also ‘signed’. There were all perfectly in time with each other!  There was also some great dancing from the Egyptian ladies all decked out in their wonderful and very effective costumes.   With 21 musical numbers to remember the singing and dancing from all was first rate.

Anyone doing Joseph has to have the iconic coat and CTC’s did not disappoint. Along with the coat he also had 11 extra long lengths of fabric, all in different colors which were  attached to a belt and could then be pulled out by cast members in a great big circle around him, making a fabulous tableau.  All the numerous costumes from CTC’s  wardrobe looked great.   The set on stage consisted of a white backdrop from which additional lengths of white cloth were hung symbolizing the pyramids and in certain sections became rays of light. The effect of an ever changing  rainbow of colored lights along with additional ground level flood lights produced a spectacular set.  The only onstage set were 2 wide stair cases which could be used individually for the choir to sit on at differing levels or wheeled back to back to create stairs giving extra height for various scenes. So simple, yet so effective. Well done again to all the technical team for producing this brilliant concept.

Bridie is  always such an inspiration to all  around her from her young cast, the production team and all the helpers  which probably amount to virtually  a 100 strong group of people to produce this spectacular production. Well done to them all.

Catherine Dixey. NODA East District 12 Representative

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