They've only gone and done it again. The utterly brilliant Bournemouth and Boscombe Light Opera Company (most known to the public as BBLOC) have smashed it out of the park with their latest production. Move over west end, there's a new wave of stars in town and they are taking the Bournemouth Pavilion stage by storm. 

After their previous successes such as Calendar Girls, Kinky Boots and the Addams Family, they are venturing into the world of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice with another classic tale. This time, it's the turn of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. 

Based on the coat of many colours story within the Bible, this musical originally created in 1968 follows a young man named Joseph who is sold into slavery and left for dead. Whilst his brothers fear that he many no longer be alive, Joseph encounters a series of wild adventures and meets some fascinating people along the way as he finds out who he truly is and where his place is within the world. 

With a vibrant array of songs that everyone from young to old will know and be familiar with, it's easy to see how this will be a sure fire hit. But with some tweaks to the story, and some brilliant staging and casting, you are soon thrown into something that is truly wonderful. 

Opening with an announcement and introduction from the head teacher of BBLOC Grammar, you are reminded to not use your phones (or else they will be confiscated!), or sing along during their school performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. As the show unfolds you realise that teachers become wives and dancers, and the pupils soon become the wonderful children's chorus (who might I add are brilliant for being able to remain on stage throughout nearly the entire show with huge smiles on their faces!). Even with these tweaks, the show feels absolutely perfect and only enhances the fact that this amateur production has been created by those in the local community. 

Narrated by both Rosalind Lawton and Amy Cave, these two front women led the show and didn't miss a beat. I honestly couldn't get over their stage presence and how they worked in perfect partnership. Lea Martin tore down the house as the Elvis inspired Pharaoh, whilst Matthew Traher portrayed the perfectly quirky and eccentric Egyptian millionaire Potiphar. The brothers all brought their own flair to the stage, but I felt that Edward Brennan and Rob Pike as Gad and Asher. Both gave amazing performances in their respective solo songs and added some wonderful humour throughout the show. 

Aside from the principal cast, the star of the show had to be Joseph himself, played by Matt Stockham. I am always blown away by his performances, and his ability to adapt himself to any role he tasks himself to play. And I'm clearly not the only one as the audience gave a rousing extended applause after his performance of Close Every Door (which might I add was incredible, someone seated near us was definitely crying!). A true star of the local theatre scene. 

With a set that could rival that of the west end, and costumes that looked perfect from the school uniforms, to the robes and the dreamcoat itself, you can truly tell that a lot of love and passion has gone into this show. Each cast from the youngest to the oldest took their bows with the biggest grins on their faces, and you can truly see that they enjoyed performing in it as much as we enjoyed watching it. With the roaring standing ovation at the end, you can see that the audience loved every moment of it. Go Go Go Joseph? More like Go Go Go BBLOC you've done it again!

On until 7th October with two matinee performances on Saturday 7th, to find out more and book tickets, click the following link. https://bbloc.co.uk/