Interview: Christina Bianco on Playing The Narrator in JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

BroadwayWorld caught up with actress and singer Christina Bianco to chat about playing the narrator in the upcoming tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

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So, where might we know you from?

In the UK theatre scene, I have been in Forbidden Broadway in the West End and more recently I was Glinda in the Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium. This summer I had the thrill of being Ado Annie in the 80th anniversary fully staged concert celebration of Oklahoma! at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane so those are my most notable West End credits. 

Some people might also know me from social media and YouTube because years ago I had some videos go viral in which I did a lot of celebrity impressions which then got me on some really cool TV shows like The Paul O'Grady Show and This Morning so I've been around for a while!

But also, you're not new to Joseph?

No, so like so many people I grew up absolutely loving the musical Joseph. I was in a production as a kid. I was cast as the Act One narrator because of course, they had to split up the roles to keep it fair. At the time I was very upset that I didn't get to sing Pharoah's Story but the rest of the cast assured me that the Act One narrator had the best songs.

How old were you?

I think maybe 12 or so? There's a photo floating around the internet somewhere.

The last time I did a production of Joseph was about 2018 and I was in a really really cool but different version of the show which was sort of set in a sort of Las Vegas fever dream. Yes, you heard/read me correctly. It was very cool and the audience was very split. They either thought it was the coolest, most progressive modern version of Joseph or that it was hugely controversial to change the Joseph we know and love so well! So I've been hugely lucky to be in it as a kid with a traditional version and then do another fun version. 

But honestly, nothing could have prepared me for the honour of being the narrator in Joseph for one of the official Andrew Lloyd Webber theatre productions. And in the UK where the show is possibly even more loved than it is in the United States I think. I think a UK audience has a love for this show that is unmatched anywhere else. I'm very grateful to be taking on this role but it is not lost on me how daunting it is to step into the shoes of people like Maria Friedman, Linzi Hateley, Sheridan Smith and Alexandra Burke. I'm very humbled.

I met Andrew Lloyd Webber doing The Wizard of Oz with Michael Harrison's wonderful production company. To even be working with those people was a thrill and for them to trust me again with this is a great honour.

How do you feel about returning to Edinburgh?

Oh I am so excited about returning to Edinburgh. I have been to Edinburgh many times but mostly in the summer although it tends to feel like winter. I have never been to Edinburgh for Christmas time. I know I'll be very very busy but I know there's no way I won't be making time to experience Edinburgh at Christmas. I'm going to be like a kid in a candy shop. 

Is there anywhere you're desperate to rush back to?

With me, it's mostly about food. I want to go back to a lot of the great restaurants I've been to. 

How do you feel about working with Donny Osmond for the Edinburgh dates?

I don't know one person who has worked with Donny Osmond who hasn't said he is the most wonderful human being. So I've actually been very jealous of so many people in my life who have worked with Donny. I'm going to try and keep my cool because like many people I am a superfan. My mom and dad are super fans, my in-laws are absolutely freaking out. I am the coolest daughter-in-law and niece and aunt right now I can't even tell you. 

I will try my best not to fangirl. I know he's an incredibly talented performer and so hard working and such a lovely human so getting to work with him is really the icing on the cake right now.

How are rehearsals going?

Rehearsals are going really well. It's a very short show but it is so incredibly jam-packed. I can't tell you how much there is to do in every scene, particularly in this production. 

The narrator doesn't come on, sing and leave as they have sometimes in the past. I'm taking on multiple roles and characters sometimes within one number. I'm also getting the wonderfully incredibly talented kids into the show. In other productions it has been a children's choir but the modern, fresh twist on this Palladium revival is to really show it through the eyes of kids. Which is how the show was originally done. 

It was originally written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice as a show to be performed by kids. Laurence Connor said he saw a production of his own kids doing Joseph and he just thought "this is the joy and innocent storytelling that has been forgotten and people need to see". So working with the kids I need to slap beards on them and get them in place. It's just so much fun. 

It's extra difficult to do my job as Christina and also my job as the puppet master of the show orchestrating Joseph's story through these kids. It's extra fun, it's something I never anticipated and I think for the audience it just fills the audience with a little more surprise and humour and it brings it all back to what the show is really about. Storytelling and sharing it with the entire family.

With a show like Joseph that everyone knows so well, this Production Team really went out of their way to make it as furiously entertaining as possible. I am in awe of the cast that are playing the brothers and the ensemble are so incredibly talented and they're picking everything up so quickly. 

I know its our "job" but there are some people that just pick things up so much more quickly than others and do it with such pizazz and such incredible kindness. I can tell you that we have the most wonderful company of performers both the adult and youth company which is really important when you're touring with people. We're all in this for a very long haul together in some difficult touring situations and I couldn't be more grateful to already be so much in love with this company.

Is there much left on the dream role wishlist?

Yes of course! I've been very vocal about wanting to play The Lady of the Lake in Spamalot. I'd love to play Eva Peron in Evita. I don't need that to be at the Palladium- I'll do it in a black box theatre in Wichita. 

I'd love to be Pennywise in Urinetown. As I get older, I have found myself watching Hello Dolly! with new eyes. It's something people always get nervous about, ageing but I feel myself being drawn to them now. I think I've still got about ten years to play but hopefully, there will be a Dolly Levi and a Mama Rose in my future.

How long is the tour?

I'm doing the entire tour and right now it is going through August of 2025 so it'll be a very long time on the road. I'll be getting to see parts of the United Kingdom that I have been to and loved and to see parts that I have never been to before which is really special. 

Everyone is always saying "You've never been to Birmingham, you've never been to Nottingham". I've never been to Canterbury! So I'm really excited to get to spend some time in these great cities. And to get to go to Ireland as well. 

For the full list of dates for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat click here.

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