Liverpool Empire Theatre _180
“It turned out, when I went to the call back, it was actually him who passed me through!
“The show was a good springboard. It was a real challenge – I’m 19 now and I was 17 at the time – my life’s literally been flipped upside down.”
Although it has raised his profile and brought considerable opportunities his way, he says that, if there was any downside to competing in Any Dream Will Do, it is that the stigma of appearing on a reality TV talent contest among industry professionals left him feeling he had more to prove.
Stepping into Joseph’s dreamcoat has been a real joy, he says.
“The show is like a rolling stone gathering more moss – it’s a phenomenon.
“It’s one of those parts – ask any young musical theatre performer to name their top five roles and 90% of them would put Joseph in there.
“I remember in rehearsals when the dreamcoat came out for the first time and the stage tech was holding it, it was quite tentative putting it on, but an amazing experience.”
Despite his relative youth, Antony, from Oxfordshire, was prepared for the demands of a career in musical theatre, having spent most of his teens devoted to amateur groups – sometimes working on two productions at a time and practising singing for hours a day.
Things can get demanding though, he says.
“All my mates back home are going out down the pub every night after Uni, and I get phone calls from them hoping I can go out – and I have to explain I’m doing two shows a day,” he laughs.
“I have to do 12 shows a week and it might sound like the raw end of the bargain, but I really enjoy my job, and I love the reaction from the audiences, and that’s why I’m doing it.
“It’s what I dreamed of and if I had to perform 50 times a week for pennies I would.”
There may not be a cast full of household names this time around, but Antony says that really doesn’t matter and audiences will be in for just as good a time.
“I love the music and the emotion that is conveyed through the music and acted through song.
“It’s just good fun.
“It’s a very vibrant, young cast, it’s really fresh, and when we come to Liverpool the audience will see what young people can do in musical theatre.
“It’s not all about experience, sometimes it’s just about heart, and that’s what Joseph conveys.”
* JOSEPH and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is on at the Liverpool Empire, from February 16 to 21. For tickets and information, contact Ticketline on 0844 847 2525.
