JOSEPH and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat bursts onto the stage at the Regent Centre in Christchurch from May 25-27 when talented youngsters from Stagewise perform the hit Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical.

Stagewise, based at Lighthouse in Poole, ran a hugely successful social media campaign and auditions process to find the ideal Joseph, with the role eventually being handed to 14 year old Joe Weaver from Wimborne.

Students have spent the last few months working hard with Stagewise’s team of industry professionals to learn the famous songs and accompanying choreography that have made Joseph a worldwide smash hit.

Stagewise Principal Ally Cox said: “We’re so excited to be doing Joseph for this year’s big Stagewise production. It’s an enormously fun and colourful show that families will love.” Visit stagewise.co.uk and we have an incredibly talented cast who can’t wait to get on the stage and show everyone what they can do!”

Based on the biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colours, the musical was the first Andrew Lloyd-Webber-Tim Rice collaboration to be performed publicly and its family-friendly storyline, universal themes and catchy music have made it a firm favourite with theatregoers young and old.

The story is relayed in song by a Narrator, who introduces the characters of Jacob and his twelve sons. Joseph’s brothers become fiercely jealous when he is given a beautiful coat of many colours – a symbol of their father’s preference for him – and the brothers are angered further when Joseph’s dreams seem to prophecise that he will one day rule over all of them. In a desperate attempt to get rid of Joseph once and for all they sell him into slavery and he is taken away to begin a new life in Egypt. A host of colourful characters are introduced to tell the story of Joseph’s subsequent rise to power, featuring songs which have become musical theatre classics, including Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door To Me, Go Go Go Joseph and Those Canaan Days.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat runs from 25-27 May at the Regent Centre, Christchurch. To book tickets call the Box Office on 01202 499199 or visit www.regentcentre.co.uk

This is an amateur youth group production by arrangement with the Really Useful Group Ltd.

For more information on Stagewise workshops call 07702 309486 or visit www.stagewise.co