DECADES have passed since Joseph first pulled on his dreamcoat in London’s’ West End.

But there isn’t a mothball in sight or a single faded thread in this spangled, kaleidoscopic, extravaganza.

Colourful, comical, charming, and camp. This sparkling revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s earliest collaboration with Tim Rice is an outstanding triumph.

More than 40 years since it started life in a prep school, becoming the smash hit 70s rock opera, this slick, clap along, energised re-telling of the biblical tale of Jacob and his 12 sons is probably more exhilarating, more enthralling – and in these troubled times – more uplifting than ever before.

Some 18 months into playing the part of dreamer Joseph on tour, blond dreamboat Craig Chalmers – who landed the role after making the final Lloyd Webber’s telly talent search Any Dream Will Do – is just perfect.

Not only does he have that fresh, youthful appeal of the virtuous favourite son, but his beautiful melodic vocal delivery of songs like Close Every Door and Any Dream Will Do was enchanting too.

Never has the Bible been such fun. Not only do we relish the wall-to-wall hit songs with their comically satirical rhyming lyrics, through which the story is told in fast paced action, but the fun is embellished by endless visual humour. The tongue-in-cheek wit includes pop-up woolly sheep, singing camels, French men in berets, and the wonderful Elvis impersonator, Wayne Smith, playing a rhinestone suited pharaoh. Narrator Rachael Louise Miller delivers wonderful clear crisp vocals too.

The entire company pours so much energy into dance routines that take us from rock and roll to Caribbean and cowboy scenes. It is truly breathtaking. It is the ultimate feel good family show.

Hilary Porter