The Festival Theatre, Malvern

22 January 2008

On Tuesday 22, we went to the Festival Theatre, Malvern to see the touring production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. It was a production we had seen three times before, but the cast is continuously changing, as is some of the detail of the stage business and sets.* In the title role this time was Craig Chalmers, runner-up in the 2007 BBC competition, Any Dream Will Do, held to find a new Joseph for the current London revival. Chris Barton, who played the Narrator, had also been a finalist in that competition, as had several of the brothers.

We thoroughly enjoyed the performance: it was full of vigour and humour and the lead singers were first class. We heard others who had seen the show many times before over the years say that it had been the best production yet, and we agreed. Jay, of course, who loves the show, and had watched every minute of Any Dream Will Do, could not be with us, which was a shame.

Our only previous visit to the theatre had been about 20 years ago to see The Magic Flute. Since then, in 1997-98, the Winter Gardens and Festival Theatre have been thoroughly refurbished, and it is now a most impressive facility for its location.

Three views of Roger at Malvern: approaching the theatre from the car park via the ornamental pool and footbridge; starting to mount the steps to the rear entrance; and looking down into the foyer from the first floor gallery.

More about the theatre

*Footnote: the Bill Kenwright production has apparently been touring since 1979 and has entered the Guinness Book of Records as the longest running touring stage musical ever.

Home January 2008