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Post by LaLuPone on Apr 24, 2017 20:34:15 GMT
I feel really stupid asking this but is Joe doing all 25 Newcastle shows??!! That seems like bloody loads! He is indeed. He does it 12 times a week now or something like that, as they do three shows a day sometimes. So this will be a walk in the park! Oh right. Wow respect!!
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Post by Honoured Guest on Apr 24, 2017 21:27:32 GMT
I'm assuming they'll bring the stage forward and only have the back half/third of the arena open, reducing its size to a more manageable 4,000 or so. Still quite a stretch to sell out per performance but maybe manageable over Christmas? Yes, I agree. It's an innovative way of creating an additional large scale theatre venue for a family show at the busiest family theatre time of the year. Here in Cardiff one recent Xmas, National Theatre Wales staged the new Gruff Rhys family musical The Incredible Inflatable Candylion at the Swalec Stadium. But that didn't mean an audience of tens of thousands per performance!
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Post by carmella1 on Apr 24, 2017 21:41:12 GMT
I just do not think Joseph lends itself to an arena no matter how they change the proportions. Its a small show.
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Post by shady23 on Apr 24, 2017 22:05:32 GMT
It didn't sell out when it came to the nearby Sunderland Empire recently so why would it sell out the arena? I just don't get it. I just do not think Joseph lends itself to an arena no matter how they change the proportions. Its a small show. Exactly. There's no visual spectacular element at all with this show.
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Post by wickedgrin on Apr 24, 2017 22:29:37 GMT
I hope they are paying young Joe well as he usually has a lucrative panto gig!
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Post by daniel on Apr 24, 2017 22:52:43 GMT
Can't help but think that this is going to fall flat on its arsenal.
You can see the seating plan on the arena's website, it's 1/3 of the arena at best. Still, the entire width of the floor is on sale and the stage is going to look SO lost in that place.
But what the hell, it's a cash cow for Kenwright and he knows it. I know Joe is from the North East but his fans are everywhere - I can't help but think that this might have done better somewhere with a higher concentration of people, such as Manchester/London? You'd still catch the Joe super fans who'll travel the country to watch his every show, but you'll also get the "normal" fans who just wanna see Joseph (presuming that there is anybody who actually wants to see it that is?)
I'm still longing for Starlight Express in a UK arena...
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Post by Jon on Apr 24, 2017 23:49:07 GMT
Can't help but think that this is going to fall flat on its arsenal. You can see the seating plan on the arena's website, it's 1/3 of the arena at best. Still, the entire width of the floor is on sale and the stage is going to look SO lost in that place. But what the hell, it's a cash cow for Kenwright and he knows it. I know Joe is from the North East but his fans are everywhere - I can't help but think that this might have done better somewhere with a higher concentration of people, such as Manchester/London? You'd still catch the Joe super fans who'll travel the country to watch his every show, but you'll also get the "normal" fans who just wanna see Joseph (presuming that there is anybody who actually wants to see it that is?) I'm still longing for Starlight Express in a UK arena... According to the blurb, Kenwright has touring Joseph for 36 years, I wouldn't be surprised if the sets and costumes are the same age as well....
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Post by welsh_tenor on Apr 25, 2017 4:58:23 GMT
Maybe they're banking on a bit of stunt casting for the Pharaoh etc? It'll only sell out arenas if they actually get Elvis to play Pharaoh! Maybe after his run as Herod on the arena tour of JCS, Chris Moyles will play Pharaoh!?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 25, 2017 6:37:12 GMT
..... or the dreaded Phil Jupitus
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Post by shady23 on Apr 25, 2017 7:09:19 GMT
Yes and they can get Sarah Harding or Michelle Collins as the narrator, really get the crowds in!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 25, 2017 7:14:41 GMT
Seriously I wouldn't be surprised to see Jupitus because someone, somewhere clearly rates him as either a performer or a draw. Bizarre but there you go.
Many many years ago they toured Les Mis in arenas, using half of the space. Didn't work.
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Post by welsh_tenor on Apr 25, 2017 18:06:52 GMT
I've just realised it's 25 years next year... do we think an anniversary show featuring Jason Donovan and Linzi Hateley could be on the cards!?
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Post by showtoones on Apr 25, 2017 18:37:19 GMT
Is there any word on Joseph coming to the West End over Christmas this year? The Palladium/Adelphi production is amazing and it needs to come back to the West End!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2017 18:46:04 GMT
I feel really stupid asking this but is Joe doing all 25 Newcastle shows??!! That seems like bloody loads! He is indeed. He does it 12 times a week now or something like that, as they do three shows a day sometimes. So this will be a walk in the park! They do 10 shows a week on tour.
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Post by danb on Apr 26, 2017 5:16:18 GMT
When you see it live, is it all of Joe or just his head like on all of the (recycled) advertising? Because last time I saw it we had hfromsteps and I'd hate to see even part of his body again! 😂
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2017 11:42:06 GMT
When you see it live, is it all of Joe or just his head like on all of the (recycled) advertising? Because last time I saw it we had hfromsteps and I'd hate to see even part of his body again! 😂 When they first announced Joe was doing Joseph, they had a video on Social Media of him at a photoshoot, so I think (for once) that's actually an image of him!
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Post by danb on Apr 26, 2017 13:00:33 GMT
His head sits at a very odd angle on his neck then, and has an unusual outline around it
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Post by steve10086 on Oct 13, 2017 23:21:53 GMT
A bit late here, but just experienced for the first time Joe McElderry singing Joseph songs (on a repeat of Tonight at the London Palladium)... he sounds like Louie Spence!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2017 18:41:15 GMT
How long exactly has the Kenwright production been trundling on for? It's at the very least 20 years since I first saw that cut-our set. What were previous productions like?
I think my first Joseph as a kid would have been at the Birmingham Hippodrome in the mid-late 80s. Would it have been the same even then?
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Post by richey on Oct 17, 2017 19:27:04 GMT
How long exactly has the Kenwright production been trundling on for? It's at the very least 20 years since I first saw that cut-our set. What were previous productions like? I think my first Joseph as a kid would have been at the Birmingham Hippodrome in the mid-late 80s. Would it have been the same even then? My first experience of it was early-mid 80s too. As i recall it had all the basic elements still used today
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2017 9:27:01 GMT
Anyone go to the arena dates in Newcastle? How's it come across in the bigger hall? Any slight improvement in the production values? Attendance any good? I did a quick search for reviews, and just found the usual inane local paper puffery.
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Post by shady23 on Dec 31, 2017 10:15:30 GMT
I didn't go as it has not long been to Sunderland but I did see tickets on Groupon or similar.
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Post by wickedgrin on Dec 31, 2017 17:41:40 GMT
I assumed Newcastle was the same touring show just put in a 4000 seat arena to make a ton of cash. Did it sell? Joe gave up a lucrative panto this year to do this - so it must have been worth his while?
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Post by stuart on Jan 1, 2018 13:09:45 GMT
Just had a quick glance at the Metro Radio Arena’s tagged posts on Instagram and it does look like quite a grand production actually, including catwalk and lasers for the Megamix.
I know people have said that offers were on Groupon etc, but if this has turned a profit then it wouldn’t surprise me to see BK wheel out a ‘Joseph: The Arena Spectacular’ tour with a bigger star than Joe at the helm.
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Post by sophizoey on Jan 2, 2018 0:58:14 GMT
I saw the Newcastle Arena production twice (both times we had free tickets, we wouldn't pay to go to such a thing) Being from Newcastle and having seen many a pop star in that arena, the arena was reduced to a third or even a quarter of its seating capacity. The majority of the floor space was gone, and in the space left half of the raised seating was curtained off. It still probably sat around 3000 though.
The first time we saw it on opening, the sound was all over the place, this could have been because we were sat close to the band but it ruined the singing. They had clearly tried to make it grander for the arena, with a catwalk and some half-impressive lighting. The sound was improved on our second visit (the filmed performance) and our seats were much better than the completely restricted view we had last time.
As for the actors, I spent most of my time watching the ensemble. Joe lacked the stage presence I'm used to in a theatre performance. It would have been amazing if this was a Joe McElederry concert however - which I'm positive some of his fans thought it was.
It was nice to see a local boy play a lead, that did warm my heart a little. He doesn't have a bad voice, a little work on diction and breathing.
It was a fine production, not really grand enough for an arena. Definitely suited to people who don't usually attend the theatre and as someone who does I found some of the behaviour appalling, but what can you expect when there isn't an announcement about mobile phones.
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Post by Rozzi Rainbow on Jan 7, 2018 20:26:42 GMT
I went just before Christmas and it hadn't sold well at all, as the previous post said the stage was brought a long way forward so there was only a very small amount of floor seating, and the top of the tiered seating was curtained off as well as the balcony. Even then there were lots of seats unsold, it seemed mad to me that they did 3 shows on the Saturday - if the other 2 were as badly sold as the one I went to, everyone could have easily fit into 2 shows and given the cast a rest in between.
I've previously seen We Will Rock You and Mamma Mia at the arena, I enjoyed WWRY but didn't think MM worked so well in the arena (I had previously enjoyed it at the theatre). I think it worked in Joseph's favour that it's sung through, I think this helped in the arena setting which is more designed for songs rather than lots of dialogue. I felt a long way from the stage, even though I was only in the second row of the tiers, and at the side near to the stage (I didn't want to pay the price of the floor seats!).
The stage was very deep - as it had been brought forward, it was set deeper than in most theatres, so together with the added catwalk meant the cast had a lot of running up and down to do. I did like the catwalk though, and it meant the show didn't feel so far away at times. I liked the local references with the boat going to Sunderland and Jacob saying why-aye.
I like Joe as Joseph, more so than most other celebrities who've played the role. It used to be my favourite show about 10 years ago, but it feels like it's missing something now and felt a bit flat.
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Post by ronnette on Oct 7, 2019 22:05:34 GMT
I’m resurrecting this thread as I saw Joseph at the York Opera Grand at the weekend (grand it was not, theatre needs some money spent on it).
Jaymi Hensall as Joe, impressive voice. Missing many handmaidens though. Usual narrator was off, leaving one handmaiden to dance on her own. Odd!
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Post by Rozzi Rainbow on Oct 13, 2019 17:31:26 GMT
I’m resurrecting this thread as I saw Joseph at the York Opera Grand at the weekend (grand it was not, theatre needs some money spent on it). Jaymi Hensall as Joe, impressive voice. Missing many handmaidens though. Usual narrator was off, leaving one handmaiden to dance on her own. Odd! Another handmaiden was also off, there are normally three on this tour. I thought Amber did a great job doing all the handmaidening herself. Further to my earlier post in this thread, I think this version finally has what the previous few have missed, it feels like it's got it's mojo back and is much more like the show I enjoyed 15 years ago. I love the new musical changes, and it feels like it has some oomph again. The end of act 1 is great. I love Jaymi as Joseph, he sings it beautifully and had me in tears twice. He's certainly helped bring my enjoyment of this show back, I've seen him 6 times already. Also, much as I love Henry Metcalfe, it was nice to see another Jacob as James Head has returned. I liked his facial expressions and mannerisms. I can't remember the last time I saw someone other than Henry.
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Post by grannyjx6 on Nov 8, 2019 18:25:22 GMT
I saw this yesterday and absolutely loved it. Totally agree that it's the Joseph of many years ago and Jaymi was just wonderful, as all the cast were. 5/5 for me.
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Post by danb on Nov 8, 2019 21:34:52 GMT
Jaymi was in a car crash on his way home last night apparently and will be off for the rest of the week. Commuting from London to Sheffield doesn’t strike me as much fun. Probably can’t afford to stay over on BK wages. (Source - Daily Fail app)
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