RTÉ Entertainment's John Byrne catches up with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat star Linzi Hateley ahead of the show’s arrival in Dublin. It brought back some memories . . .
"I closed my eyes, drew back the curtain
To see for certain, what I thought I knew
Far, far away, someone was weeping
But the world was sleeping
Any dream will do"
Depending on your age, the above lyrics will either open your personal time tunnel to the early 1990s and Jason Donovan in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, or even further back, to the 1970s, when Tony Kenny sang Any Dream Will Do at Dublin’s Olympia and Gaiety theatres to record-breaking audiences.
I particularly remember the latter, as a friend of mine - Sean Dunne, who’s sadly no longer with us - featured in the schoolboy choir that provided backing vocals for Joe Cuddy’s version of Any Dream Will Do, which reached number one in the Irish charts in 1974. Or was it the soundtrack album and stage show? It was nearly half-a-century ago and things are pretty foggy . . .
Anyway. Following its embryonic beginnings in the late 1960s, the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webb musical became a West End hit in London during the 1970s, Broadway in the 1980s, and enjoyed a massively successful revival at the London Palladium in 1992.
That production starred the aforementioned Donovan in the lead role, and alongside him was Linzi Hateley playing the integral role of the Narrator. It was an early West End part for her, and she’s gone on to become London theatre royalty, playing Mrs Banks in Mary Poppins, Rizzo in Grease, Donna in Mamma Mia! amongst many, many other roles.
She returned to Joseph and revived her role as the Narrator for the show’s recent London Palladium revival, which is now on tour - and heading to the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre for a run between the 9th and 27th of August.
Here's a flavour of the production when it was at the Palladium:
By all accounts, it’s a spectacular production this time around and piled up the rave reviews. And who better to talk to about the show and its inter-generational appeal than someone who’s been there before?
John Byrne: Hi Linzi. You’re currently on the road with Joseph, but it won’t be long before you, the rest of the cast and crew cross the Irish Sea to bring the show to Ireland.
Linzi Hateley: We’re all looking forward to Dublin - it’s actually a three-week stint there, which is lovely. Touring around is really tough and it’s quite nice to be in one place for a while, and have a little look around and enjoy the place.
I’ve been to Dublin, but I’ve never performed there so I’m very looking forward to it. I’ve heard the theatre is beautiful.
As a stage performer you’re putting a smile on people’s faces, giving them a good night out - and Joseph pretty much ticks all the boxes.
Oh, absolutely. I know it’s a kind of standard answer but I think - more than ever, after the pandemic - shows like Joseph are pure escapism and joy. And it’s been very humbling and emotional to be performing again, and to see all the joy that it’s given people. It’s been truly wonderful and means more than ever before. It really does.
And it’s obviously a fantastic buzz when it all goes right?
It is. It’s wonderful. I’ve been in such a mix of musicals - some serious ones - but I have to say that there’s just something lovely about everybody being up on their feet at the end and just having a great time.
You’ve had a fair old career in the theatre. And that's putting it lightly. Where does Joseph rank when you look back at the various shows you’ve been in over the years?
For me, Joseph always plays a special part in my life. It was my second West End job. I got it when I was 20, back at the London Palladium. It was a massive success with Jason Donovan. I got nominated for an Olivier Award for the part of the Narrator and it really put me on the map.
Then I had the most extraordinary experience last summer to be asked to go back to the Palladium with Jason Donovan, and do the show again. And it’s in a different form - obviously it’s not the same as it was 30 years ago.
But there are very few parts, as you get older, you can still play and to get the chance to revisit - and certainly, to have been back with Jason - was just wonderful. We were like big kids again, reliving our youth. It was fantastic.
Jason, of course, was part of the London run of Joseph and isn't on the current tour. But it’s a rare opportunity, to go back and do a show again, playing the same role, several decades later. And to reunite with Jason as well. Not just any dream will do, eh?
There are very few parts - I can’t think of any - that I could now play, that I could’ve played 30 years ago! That’s the reality, and for us to have been back together . . . we’ve both got families and my daughter said: oh the one show I’d like to see you do is Joseph, and then she’s backstage watching it, and seeing her mum do her thing. It’s been very special. It really has.
Back when you were starring in Joseph for the first time, as a 20-year-old you would have been forgiven for thinking: This is easy!
No! (Laughs.) I think when you’re young you kind of think that - I always remember when I was younger thinking, Oh, I’m so tired. I’ve worked so hard. And then of course when you get a bit older, and you have a family, and you’re trying to do a West End show, and you’re doing a school run and all the other things - you suddenly realise what tiredness really is.
Really, it was quite an easy job for me at the time. And, certainly now, I realise how blinkin’ hard it is!
You’ve managed to have a family and a career - now that’s real hard work!
That’s my biggest success I think. Longevity in theatre is one thing, but having some normality in your life as well has been hard work - but a bonus. And certainly something I’m particularly proud of.
And touring has to be particularly tough on those who have families. When you’re on the road, you can’t go home every night.
I’ve been quite lucky, really. And I don’t mean this disrespectfully, but when you tour it’s a lovely way to see different places. But people are also so appreciative. The audience response has been absolutely phenomenal.
Having said all that, I have managed to spend most of my career in the West End so that I could have my home life with my family as well, so this is the third time in 35 years that I’ve toured.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, 9 to 27 of August. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster
