With drums a-crashing and lights a-flashing, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat burst on to the Princess Theatre stage on Tuesday night, writes Richard Bray.

And how fitting for the much-loved musical’s 50th anniversary tour that a man named Joe should don the famous coat of many colours.

Joe McElderry simply revelled in the title role, and in my opinion – having seen the show at least a dozen times over some 30 years – is one of the best Josephs in its long history.

The X Factor 2009 winner is a singer of the highest quality, and he portrayed the lows and highs of Joseph’s life with real emotion in all his songs.

And his delivery of the achingly-beautiful Close Every Door To Me was breathtaking.

One of the most vital roles in the making of a good Joseph is that of the Narrator, and it is safe to say that Lucy Kay nailed it with aplomb.

A classical singer and a Britain’s Got Talent runner-up, Lucy used her amazing voice to good effect in telling the biblical tale of Jacob, his favourite son Joseph and his 11 brothers – and she did it all with a smile that lit up the bay!

It is a touch of genius making ‘Elvis’ the Pharoah King, and Ben James-Ellis was a natural king of rock ’n’ roll; while Henry Metcalfe – who is also the show’s choreographer – was a perfect Jacob.

Joseph’s brothers – and the trio of hand-maidens – lit up the stage with their costumes, and their singing and dancing was out of the top drawer.

The backing choir of young children – who remain on stage throughout – were members of Stagecoach (Newton Abbot and Torquay) and they certainly looked to be enjoying themselves, and they got their own moment in the spotlight with a medley immediately after the interval.

The musical is one of the most popular to come out of the Tim Rice / Andrew Lloyd-Webber stable, so it was no surprise to see a 1,000-plus audience on the opening night.

The show full of unforgettable songs including the Parisian-themed Those Canaan Days, Any Dream Will Do, the reggae-style Benjamin Calypso and the dosey-doeing One More Angel In Heaven.

Inflatable sheep and singing camels add to the recipe for a joyful, uplifting show that is a delight from the start right through to the final Joseph Megamix that had the audience on their feet dancing, with the brothers joining them in the asiles.

Go Go Go Joseph… and Joe McElderry… and all of the multi-talented cast!

Joseph and the Amazing

Technicolor Dreamcoat is at the Princess Theatre, Torquay,

until tomorrow.