Joseph Wicks, contributing writer
Joseph is an actor, singer and director living in London. He trained on the one year Postgraduate Musical Theatre course at the Royal Academy of Music. Since graduating he has been a rather nasty Dandini at the Theatre Royal, Northampton; a lost shepherd in an outside Nativity play; a Samurai warrior at the Royal Opera House, a Dutch elephant specialist; a swashbuckling Spanish pussy cat; Comrade Lenin; a medieval jester ghost; a Harlequin in Venice and a backing singer for Elton John.
The National Theatre and director Dominic Cooke have created an exquisite, nuanced and stylish revival of Stephen Sondheim’s arching epic musical of nostalgia, memories, regret and hope. Every aspect of this production is lavish and flawless: the acting is sublime, each character is full and resonates with truth; the voices are remarkable; the orchestra just sings (masterfully conducted by Nigel Lilley); costume is elegant and every showgirl unique; Bill Deamer’s classy choreography ranges from achingly graceful to pure jazzy showbiz.
DREAMGIRLS, charting the rise to success of a 1960's Supremes-style girl group 'The Dreams', crackles along at a lively pace with plenty of soul, sass and colour.