Dreams in colours

Windmill Theatre Company's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat cast rehearse.

By CASEY NEILL

JOSEPH and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is taking centre stage at the Drum Theatre.
Windmill Theatre Company is taking audiences on a vibrant musical journey through the story of Joseph and his coat of many colours.
The Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice-written show follows Joseph, who is his father’s favourite son and is blessed with the gift of prophetic dreams.
His jealous brothers sell him to slavery and Joseph embarks on adventures that challenge his strength, spirit and humanity.
Narre Warren South’s Kofi Nortey plays Issachar and said learning the script and how to read sheet music had been a challenge.
“This is the biggest and most professional musical theatre show I have been a part of so I’m very excited to see it all come together,” he said.
Narrator Carla White said she’d always loved the show.
“It’s one I was exposed to at a young age and given I was a huge Jason Donovan fan when I was younger, of course I knew about the show!” she said.
“As I got a little older and started to really find my love for musical theatre, the role of the narrator soon got to the top of list of dream roles… after all, it is one of the larger female roles in musical theatre.”
Ms White said audiences could expect colour, energy, fun and variety and songs ranging in musical style from country and western to calypso, bubble-gum pop and rock’n’roll.
James Terry said Joseph had been a dream role since learning Andrew Lloyd Webber during his first years of musical theatre training.
“It’s a colourful role with plenty of light and shade that gives the role some depth to explore,” he said.
“How could I resit a role with such fabulous costume changes and the chance to show off – my lack of – chiselled abs?”
Mr Terry said it was easy to mimic and base a character and vocals on previous actors’ portrayals.
“I intend to bring my own colour and tone into the role and try to relate the role to as much of myself as possible to give it some realism,” he said.
The show runs for 140 minutes with an interval at Drum Theatre, corner Lonsdale and Walker streets, Dandenong, on Friday 27 June at 8pm, Saturday 28 June at 2pm and 8pm and Sunday 29 June at 2pm.
Tickets are $40 for adults, $36 concession or $32.50 for Drum members.
A family ticket for two adults and two children aged under 15 years is $140.
Call 9771 6666 or visit www.drumtheatre.com.au for bookings.