Joe to play Joseph: X Factor champ dons coat of many colours at St Helens Theatre Royal

Joe McElderry

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: St Helens Theatre Royal

X Factor winner Joe McElderry will put on the dazzling coat of many colours as he steps into the title role of the UK’s longest-running musical Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at St Helens Theatre Royal in February 2016.

Joe was just 18 when he won the sixth series of The X Factor having been mentored by Girls Aloud star Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and beating off fierce competition from Olly Murs and Stacey Solomon.

He then soared to number one on the UK Singles Charts with his rendition of Miley Cyrus’s The Climb and his debut album Wide Awake went straight in at number three on the UK Albums Chart. He has since gone on to have two more top ten albums, and he became the first X Factor star to release four albums, with a fifth in the making.

Joe, who hails from South Shields, Tyne and Wear, is also the first and only celebrity to win three reality TV shows! He was crowned the winner of the second series of ITV’s Popstar to Operastar before strapping on his skis and slaloming his way to become champion of Channel 4’s celebrity ski competition The Jump last year!

Joseph marks Joe’s first major theatrical appearance following a one-off West End gala performance as the lead in The Who's Tommy in 2012.

Having garnered sensational reviews and standing ovations at every performance since its inception almost 35 years ago, Bill Kenwright’s Amazing’, ‘Superb’, ‘Wonderful’ and ‘Brilliant’ production of this sparkling family musical has now sold an estimated 20 million tickets.

This vibrant and exciting retelling of the biblical story about Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many colours sings out to young and old alike with a score which is crammed wall to wall with hits, including Jacob and Sons, Close Every Door and Any Dream Will Do.

The show is presented by Bill Kenwright by special arrangement with the Really Useful Group – lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Chantelle Nolan, manager of St Helens Theatre Royal, commented: “Following the success of Blood Brothers, we are absolutely thrilled to present Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and are sure Joe McElderry will be perfect for the role of Joseph.”

For more information, please visit www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com.