Pop star turned West End favourite Joe McElderry is back in Cardiff this week, stepping into the role of the Pharaoh in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Wales Millennium Centre.
Having previously played Joseph himself from 2016 to 2018, Joe is no stranger to the beloved Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. But this time around, the experience feels refreshingly different.
“The Pharaoh is a very condensed role,” Joe tells Cardiff Life. “I come on in Act Two, do my big rock ’n’ roll number, have a great time with the audience and then I’m done! With Joseph, you’re on and off throughout the show, so the pace is very different. I’ve actually really enjoyed the change, it’s been a bit of a luxury!”
The tour, which has been running since January, brings Joe back to a city he knows and loves.
“I’ve performed at the Millennium Centre many times, it’s such a fantastic venue. The Welsh audiences are always incredible. They love music, they love musicals, and you can really feel that energy. It’s always a joy to come back.”
Joe and the cast have made a point of exploring each city they visit, even forming a Friday “run club” to see more of the places they perform in.
“We’re in Cardiff for the week, so I’ll definitely try to get out and about. Cardiff Bay is beautiful, perfect for a run or a brunch, which the cast are obsessed with! And I’ve already promised them a visit to Chippy Lane, that’s on our list of must visit spots in Cardiff.”
He’s also considering joining local wild swimming group The Dawnstalkers for a chilly dip in Penarth.
With the final weeks of the tour in sight, Joe is soaking up every moment, especially the audience reaction to the show’s famous Megamix finale.
“There’s nothing like it. Seeing a couple thousand people up on their feet, singing and dancing with you, that’s why we do it. That joy is infectious.”
Catch Joe McElderry as the Pharaoh in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Wales Millennium Centre, Tuesday 22 – Sunday 27 July.
Tickets available now at www.wmc.org.uk.
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