Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Concert

St. Mary's Church was the perfect setting for VAMPS concert version of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." The atmosphere was intimate, with the concert stage set in the centre, surrounded by the audience and lit by a mix of stage and ambient lighting. As I took my seat, the cast's interaction with the audience set a relaxed tone appropriate for a concert.

As the performance began the cast moved from within the audience, gathering on stage in simple yet effective costumes: narrators in black and white, the adult choir and brothers in black, the children’s chorus in white T-shirts and Joseph all in white. As each character was introduced, the cast members revealed T-shirts with their character's name printed on them, a clever and straightforward touch.

The narrators (Jenny Bane, Emma Ralls, Leah Sheldrick, Emily Plattern, Charlotte Newman)  were particularly impressive, each bringing a unique vocal style to their storytelling. Some had a modern, pop influence, while others leaned towards classical and musical theatre tones. The brothers, as a collective, delivered strong harmonies that added depth to the musical numbers. Played by Barnaby Wainwright, Joseph’s pure and angelic tone resonated beautifully in the church, reminiscent of an adult choirboy, which was fitting for this church setting.

Characters emerged dynamically from the ensemble, such as in the scene with Potiphar and Mrs. Potiphar, where the cast donned white sunglasses to symbolize wealth. The Pharaoh’s scene was equally stylish, with Pharaoh in a leather jacket and Elvis shades, and the ensemble in red heart-shaped sunglasses and scarves. Julian Tucker’s Elvis impersonation was spot-on, though at times it was challenging to distinguish the lyrics due to the impressive characterization.

"Those Canaan Days," led by Reuben, was a standout performance. With a cigarette in mouth and classic French beret, Huw Nadin delivered an impeccable accent and characterisation of the downtrodden brother.

Despite a few instances of microphone feedback, the sound crew ensured that the performances were clearly heard over the well-masked band. The lighting was particularly impressive, with over 20 moving lights creating an engaging atmosphere even during the matinee which is always difficult with natural light bleeding through the church windows.

Being picky, while this was a concert version, I would have like to see a few more spectacular costumes to dress the main characters, particularly for example in “One More Angel in Heaven” which would have benefitted for more cowboy attire to bring out the comedy. Joseph’s dreamcoat was impressive and clear a lot of work had gone into, but it was somewhat understated from what I’m used to.

Overall, the concert was a delightful experience. Well done to Emma Driscoll for directing this and to Emily Wainwright-Meekins for her musical direction. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at St. Mary's Church and am eagerly anticipating VAMPS’ upcoming production of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" in the same venue. What a perfect setting for such a show!

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