“Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” presented by the Blackpool Grand Theatre Summer Youth was an absolute joy to watch. The musical tells the story of Joseph who can see visions of the future, the jealous eleven brothers who craving their fathers favour send Joseph away and the multicoloured coat that is the musicals namesake.
As someone who teaches young people myself, I have learnt to never underestimate their talents yet despite going in with high expectations, this cast absolutely exceeded them. From the very beginning when the Narrators started to sing in front of a sparkly backdrop, I knew the vocals and harmonies within the show would be phenomenal and with a creative team including the likes of Joe Keegan, Mykey Young and Sophie Yaeger who I have had the pleasure of coming across previously, I expected nothing less. The young cast’s take on the lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, was full of energy and passion and they performed with the upmost professionalism. The colour scheme of the set and costume was in keeping with the vibrant nature of the show and was aesthetically pleasing. Furthermore, the set was simplistic yet allowed for the cast themselves to be the spectacle, with props such as a chariot, prison bars and scarves brought down when necessary to help change location and move the story along.
The storytelling techniques used in the show were engaging and easy to follow even if you didn’t know the story prior to watching. The humour and comedic timing were well done and gained lots of laughs from the audience. I specifically loved the brother and their performances in the songs “One More Angel in Heaven”, in which they pretend to mourn the death of their brother yet celebrate when their father isn’t present and “Benjamin Calypso” where they attempt to protect their brother from being accused of a crime. Both really conveyed the individual characters personalities and were hilarious to watch.
Having a Deaf Interpreter to make the show more accessible was a great touch and it was well interpreted by Eva Smith, who brought energy and facial expressions that drew me in throughout the show.
A particular favourite character of mine was Tillie Calvert’s portrayal of the Pharaoh whose incredible vocals and funky dance moves provided a funny and electrifying moment in the show. In general, the choreography in the musical was well executed with creative formations and movement motifs proving these children are incredibly versatile performers.
The casting was brilliantly done and those in principle roles have clearly worked very hard on their craft. Samuel Boughton as Joseph brought a mature take to the role despite his young age and carried the show with technique and confidence beyond his years. The Narrators had stunning voices and wowed the audience especially on the high notes and harmonies. I’m sure we will see Amelia, Jess and Tiana shining in other shows in future.
Musicals being sung through at times can make it difficult to follow the story however that was not the case with this show. The musicianship from the band alongside the ensemble vocals from the cast was the greatest component of the show and made this feel like a professional level production instead of a youth performance. In addition, the songs in this show are CATCHY and I have found myself singing them since leaving the theatre.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this musical and left the theatre entertained, joyful and feeling pride for the young people involved. Based on this show, I would absolutely return to Blackpool to watch what this group does in future.
The show runs from Wednesday 19th August to Saturday 22nd and is a must watch for those who love a fun and engaging musical.
Reviewer: Marianna Morante
Reviewed: 19th August 2026
North West End UK Rating: