Theatreland continues to spring back to life with two of the biggest touring productions in the world arriving in Glasgow. A blockbuster summer for stage shows is underway.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
The acclaimed London Palladium production comes to Glasgow, starring Linzi Hateley, Jac Yarrow and Jason Donovan. Joseph, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, began as a small 30 minute show written for schools in the 1960s, but has now grown into its cult classic, with numerous West End runs and a movie adaption starring Donny Osmond. In 2019, this glitzy new production revived the show and it is now on its UK tour.
The story of Joseph is not very long or grand: Joseph gets given a technicolour coat much to the annoyance of his eleven brothers, is sold to slavery and through his talent of deciphering the meaning of dreams, works his way up to becoming right hand man to the Pharaoh of Egypt. However, its quirky biblical setting is merely the backdrop for a glittering patchwork of sensational showtunes, including Any Dream Will Do and Close Every Door that give Joseph its enduring, captivating charm.
Linzi Hateley plays the narrator, a role she first took on in the 1991 version of the show, guiding the audience through the story with charisma, perfect comedic timing and brilliant vocals. She also acts as a guide to the small group of children in the cast who pose as a sweet reminder of how Joseph began as a children’s show.
Jac Yarrow is exceptional as Joseph, delivering note perfect vocals in the starring role. He is well supported by Joseph’s eleven brothers, who are not only hilarious in songs such as Those Canaan Days and One More Angel in Heaven, but also lead high-energy, impressive dance numbers. Jason Donovan returns to the show that established his career in musical theatre with a scene-stealing turn as Pharaoh.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a family-friendly, upbeat show that is sure to entertain audiences for many years to come.
King’s Theatre, Tue 14 Jun – Sat 25 June
Six at the Theatre Royal
Five years since the original production at the Edinburgh Fringe, the now global hit musical Six returns to Glasgow. Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss wrote the show with the basic concept of “it’s the six wives of Henry VIII, but like a pop concert”. They created a fun, modern, high-energy 90 minute concert style musical in which the six wives tell their stories through song. Six has now picked up both Olivier and Tony award nominations and is showing across the world, from New York to Australia.
From the moment the lights went down, the roaring crowd treated the Six queens more like a girl group than traditional musical performers, which is exactly the atmosphere that suits the show.
The Queens themselves – Catherine of Aragon (Chloe Hart), Anne Boleyn (Jennifer Caldwell), Jane Seymour (Casey Al-Shaqsy), Anna of Cleves (Jessica Niles), Katherine Howard (Jaina Brock-Patel) and Catherine Parr (Alana M Robinson) – all brought bombastic, catchy and witty dance numbers, characterised by impeccable vocals and sharp humour for the full show, never leaving the stage and never missing a beat.
The all female on-stage band – or as the Queens call them “The Ladies in Waiting” – brought the girl group style songs to life with impressive musicality.
You have your pop diva impact songs, such as the hilarious Don’t Lose Ur Head, alongside more tender moments, such as the ballad Heart of Stone or the important message of consent behind All You Wanna Do, which are executed perfectly. The audience leave Six feeling uplifted and empowered.
Tue 14 Jun – Sun 19 Jun 2022 and Tue 29 Aug – Sun 3 Sep 2023