FIRST ACT: The backdrop is like an illustration from an ancient Egyptian manuscript. In the foreground a gaily dressed horse in a striped coat and a high ceremonial head dress pulls a chariot in which stands a member of the ancient Egyptian nobility, in full rich court-dress made of silk brocade. Slaves in short white kilts, with bare chests, stand on ether side of the chariot and also stand behind it. On the left two noble Egyptians stand on a balcony looking down, while others stand to the side of the horse. Behind all, filling the top half of the backcloth are Egyptian hieroglyphics depicting the iconic symbols of Egypt in vertical lines.
When the curtain opens, the backdrop is of a star-spangled, dark blue sky. The scene looks very biblical, almost like a Nativity Scene with the characters frozen under a steeply pitched roof and a beam of light, as though from God the Father, shining down on the robed Eastern group. Centre back is a huge Egyptian golden face mask, a Pharaoh, Rameses, with an attached striped rectangular cloth hanging on each side. In the distance are one pyramid to left and right, and there are palm fronds either side. At one point this Egyptian mask of Pharaoh appears to speak, as its red eyes flash.
Tall palm trees are to each side of the flight of stairs, and palm fronds are to left and right at the base of the stairs.
The stairs which occupy half of the stage, have a large triangular section which can move apart, or back, from the main stair section, which remains at all times.
In the scene with Joseph, Jacob and the brothers, 3 life-sized sheep appear at the top of the steps and sometimes 2 appear down below. 3 camels also make an appearance. 2 are ridden, like hobby-horses, with wooden heads on long sticks, by the Ishmaelites. The third is a huge head the mouth of which moves, puppet-like, and opens to sing. For the journey into Egypt there are two halves of a boat which slot together for the 2 prison guards and Joseph. Their legs and feet are apparent beneath the deck of the boat, propelling it forward. A box appears and is sometimes a very small prison for Joseph, a chest for Potiphar’s treasure and even a bed for Potiphar’s wife and Joseph to lie on.
A large pyramid, with two smaller pyramids to each side are seen at the rear, above the staircase. The back drop sky is bright blue, with stars.
Two jackal heads project between the palm trees on each side of the stairs.
EIFFEL TOWER SCENE.
The Eiffel Tower is centre back on a dark blue sky. Paving stones are projected on to the floor.
The screen at the rear is dark blue with many small stars.
On the ground, is a leaf pattern in a central pool of light.
Again a large pyramid with two smaller pyramids either side, and palm trees are at rear. Tall golden male statues on plinths are to either side rear.
The central staircase triangle is retracted. Different colours of light shine out between each step. On the floor lines of rainbow colours are projected.
Lucy Kay, the Narrator, was the runner-up in Britain’s Got Talent 2014.
Young and slim, with long glossy black hair caught up at the nape of her neck,dark eyebrows, blue eyes, straight nose and full lips. She first arrives in a pale blue dressing gown, which she removes to show a modern, black, long-sleeved top, sequined at the front, with moon, stars and the planets. Stars also decorate one hip of her black trousers.
JOE MC ELDERRY, plays the part of JOSEPH. He is aged 26, and was just 18 when he won the sixth series of The X Factor. His face is square, and he has thick dark hair, even teeth, wide smile, dark eyebrows, and high cheek bones. He is of average height and average build.
He first appears in a white tunic and loose white trousers. The wives of Joseph help him into his cloak made of separate bands of glittering gold. The colours come from the changing of the lights on stage so that, for example, everything appears to be green, yellow, brown etc. in the second half of the show wearing only a short Egyptian style slave’s kilt, his muscular chest, shoulders and arms on display, and with chained hands.
Later cheerleaders dress him in a short golden skirt, and a cloak made of separate bands of glittering gold. He also wears a golden helmet type mask, which conceals his face and a breast-plate with golden shoulders.
At the end of the show, he wears a long gold robe, with a deep V at the front, high collar, and cream stripe on the long sleeves. There are panels of cream on the chest and the wide skirt, trimmed with gold braid, split at the sides, to reveal a cream sleeveless robe.
JACOB, and POTIPHAR are played by Henry Metcalfe. As Jacob he is old, and stooped, with white hair and long white beard. He wears a long blue and white striped robe, and small close fitting hat. Later he is far more grand in a robe of gold and orange stripes. As Potiphar he wears a long white gown or robe and a wig like a judge would wear today.
The BUTLER, played by Lewis Asquith, who also plays one of the brothers, Reuben, has a headdress band of white, with a square of white cloth attached at the back, and wears a black tail-coat and black trousers.
The BAKER wears a white chef’s hat and a white cotton jacket.Richard J Hunt takes this part and also the part of Judah.
POTIPHAR’S WIFE, played by Sallie-Beth Lawless, has a dancer’s beautiful figure and shiny black hair, and is resplendent in a twenties style vamp’s costume, with scarlet body over which is a skirt made entirely of slits of fabric, so that when she kicks her legs, her entire leg length is visible. She has scarlet high heels and matching gloves half way up her bare arms, A scarlet fascinator adorns her lustrous dark hair and she sports a scarlet feather boa.
PHARAOH, is dressed as Elvis, with black hair slicked back. He descends clad in a white jacket with stand-up collar, and flared white trousers, with red insets. His white cloak is also lined with red, and he has a long red scarf. This part is played by Ben James-Ellis, the semi-finalist in the hit TV show Any Dream Will Do.
The chorus of children occasionally sit centre front of the stage but mainly sit on either side of the main staircase, when they are on the stage. They wear modern dress of jeans and t shirts, with neatly plaited or combed hair. The two children who first enter with the Narrator, are a girl and a boy. The girl wears a pink dressing gown and carries a teddy bear. The boy wears a blue dressing gown and carries a bedtime book. Thye soon discard these clothes revealing jeans and t shirts.
The chorus plays the part of Joseph’s brothers throughout the show but they are transported to different locations form time to time.. As Joseph’ brothers in Canaan, they wear coloured tunics and loose trousers in a mix of pastel shades in contrast to Joseph’s white outfit. Their tunics are tied into their waists with sashes. They also wear woven sleeveless waistcoats and they sport small, black scull caps.
Jacob’s wives arrive in loose long dresses in various shades, wearing white head cloths and with cloth shoulder bags. Later men and women are transformed into cowboys, complete with Stetsons, waistcoats and short skirts for the women. At another point the chorus is suddenly attired as a gospel choir with black academic gowns decorated with pink collars, scarves and cuffs. As Egyptian guards they wear long robes, and jackal shaped masks, and helmets with long snouts. Under the robes are red knee length trousers, worn with short sleeved tops, and white stockings and shoes. Sometimes they appear bare above the waist with short white Egyptian kilts. THREE CHEERLEADERS, with sequined pink tops, and brief flared white skirts, with pink insets, carry red pom-poms. In the EIFFEL TOWER SCENE, the chorus wears black berets, with striped sweaters, baggy red trousers, and Jacob wears a black beret with his blue striped robe. Three girls have short skirts, split at each side, with white sleeveless tops. In the CALYPSO SCENE: the chorus wears long multi-coloured frilled sleeves with their baggy trousers and white tops, and have wide bands around their waists.
Benjamin, the youngest of the brothers, is also the slightest. He has a small physique and a naïve, frightened face. He dresses more simply than his brothers. This part is taken by George Knapper.
The three female dancers have long skirts, made of layers of multi coloured frills. The skirts are split, revealing brief pink pants which match their pink bra tops. Attached round their necks, are a high semi circle of ostrich feathers, in red, blue or pink. On their heads are small crowns of multi coloured frills, and they have silver high heels.
In the final scene the three women dancers wear long patterned, loose dresses, long sleeved, split at the sides of the skirt. Joseph has a train of rainbow colours attached to his waist, which his brothers extend to make a semi circle of colour.
The show is directed by Bill Kenwright. Choreography is by Henry Metcalfe, lighting is by Nick Richings and costumes by Alex Stewart.
Audio description is brought to you by NI Sightlines and delivered by Kate Ingram and Sara Duncan. We hope you enjoy the show.