LIVERPOOL producer Bill Kenwright will spring a surprise on the First Night audience at tonight’s official opening of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Liverpool Empire.

The show celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and Kenwright’s production will feature a new song, especially for Liverpool.

Written by the show’s writers Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, King of My Heart will be sung in the finale of the hit show.

Originally written for a school, the musical was first given a full concert performance at Westminster Hall, London, on May 12, 1968, by Lloyd Webber’s father.

Unlike the school performance, there were critics and people from the BBC at this performance and although not universally liked, the show went on to become a considerable hit.

New numbers were written at that time – the first performance was little more than 35 mins – and the show is now part of British cultural life.

Three of the original contestants will be appearing in Kenwright’s Liverpool production, Craig Chalmers, Chris Barton and Antony Hansen.

All have contributed to the album Dream On with other contestants from the show.

The new production will be running for two weeks until March 8.