Review - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Shrewsbury

Red and yellow and green and brown, And scarlet and black and ochre and peach . . .

A lavish production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has just begun a much anticipated five-day run at the riverside venue.

And get your sunglasses at the ready – it's dazzling. A rich tapestry of colour and music and dance.

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Keith Jack – runner-up in the BBC hunt for a West End star in Any Dream Will Do (he lost out to Lee Mead) -– takes on the title role in this latest Bill Kenwright production, which is simply unmissable.

Emotional, funny, spectacularly colourful, gloriously clever and downright good fun. A musical rollercoaster.

If you don't believe me – ask the hundreds dancing in the aisles at the packed opening night last night. After a standing ovation, a crash of drums and a flash of light, they were still singing on the way out.

The musical – the work of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice – proves why it is simply timeless and why audiences still flock to watch.

The songs are addictive and the costumes. Wow! They were red and yellow and green and brown. Scarlet and black and ochre and peach. . . .!

It's hard to single anyone out in this production – the retelling of the biblical story of Joseph and his band of brothers and the coat of many colours – the whole cast made the show seem effortless and their enthusiasm was infectious.

But sensational Jack proves why he was the nation's hot favourite for the West End lead role, while narrator Lauren Ingram is a rising star. I got the goosebumps.

My dreams predict a hit. Amazing. Go see for yourself.

Joseph runs at Shrewsbury's Theatre Severn until Saturday.

Review by Claire Dunn