Nothing says Egyptian-inspired musical like … Caleb Bertram. The 21-year-old has been out and about in his local community to promote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Photo: Supplied.
Caleb Bertram is an apprentice plumber by trade but right now he’s tuning his pipes to become a biblical superstar.
The 21-year-old will down tools to don a dazzling multi-coloured cloak for his lead role in Border theatre company Livid Productions’ staging of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in a few weeks.
The 70-member cast, which includes a children’s choir of 35 talented young performers, is in the throes of a rigorous after-hours rehearsal schedule ahead of seven shows at Albury Entertainment Centre from 6 March.
Caleb, who plays the central character of Joseph, agrees it’s a big commitment but laughingly admits he’s got a bit of a head start on some of his fellow cast members when it comes to learning all the lines and lyrics of the songs.
It’s a back to the future moment, as Caleb also played the same lead role as a 13-year-old at Wodonga’s Victory Lutheran College.
While Caleb has very little formal musical training, he’s been no stranger to the stage since he was but a boy at St Joseph’s Primary School at Chiltern and has starred in many local theatre productions.
From his debut in Beauty and The Beast Jr to donning an elaborate emu headdress for Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical – he initially said “I’m not wearing THAT!” – Caleb has embraced performing arts and the close-knit theatre family.
“I just loved it from the start,” he says. “It’s funny because I was never a fan of public speaking at school but I find it easy to get up on stage and play a part.
“It takes a lot of commitment, a lot of hours and there’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes learning lines and songs, and remembering dance routines … but for me it’s a way of giving back to the community by putting on a show people can enjoy.”
Talented performer Caleb Bertram will play the lead role in Border theatre company Livid Productions’ Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat this March – a role he first starred in as a Year 8 student in high school. Photos: Supplied.
This production is extra special for Caleb as he will be joined on stage by his equally talented mum Jess and younger sister Sophie, who are also part of the Joseph cast.
“Mum and Dad both did a bit of performing at school and they love watching my sister and I on stage. My parents have been my biggest supporters my whole life.”
Indeed, family connections run deep in this production, with several mums, dads and children performing together while many more cast members carry fond memories of seeing earlier productions of the decades-old musical based on the story of Joseph from the Book of Genesis.
Garrett Kelly will reprise the role of Pharaoh played by his father (right) some 15 years ago. An acclaimed and multi-faceted performer, Garrett says his father’s legacy was one of the main reasons he auditioned for this iconic role in the upcoming Albury show. Photos: Supplied.
Under the creative direction of Albury-Wodonga’s own “Yoda of theatre” David Todd, this presentation of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat promises to deliver a visually stunning, musically sublime and out-of-the-box interpretation of the work of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.
The multiple award-winning 2024 Albury Creative Citizen of the Year made his first foray into theatre in 1965 and says he “fell into it” after following a friend to an audition for a kids’ show.
“I was on for about two seconds in Peter Pan,” David laughs. “I walked in and walked off and never left.”
David has directed countless major productions – from Fiddler on the Roof and My Fair Lady to Les Misérables, Chicago and Jersey Boys (among his favourites).
The 73-year-old says with this show he’s bringing it back to “very sharp and very simple”. “It’s a show you can do anything with,” he explains.
But for David it’s the people who really bring community theatre to life.
As one of the founders of Livid Productions 20 years ago, David is proud of the reputation a dedicated team of talented individuals have built to bring professional-level amateur theatre to the Border.
“At this stage I find every show I do is a privilege and it’s a privilege to have the respect and friendship of the people I work with,” he says.
“It’s not just me – it’s everybody. “We’ve got some of the best singers, we’ve got people who’ve never done a show before and young children in an adult show. But we are all there for one reason – to put on this show.
“It’s everyday people doing extraordinary things!”
As for Caleb, who plans to swap his Joseph cloak for a footy jumper and play for Chiltern at the conclusion of this show, he’s busily mastering songs and dance moves, and ignoring the good-natured teasing of his workmates.
“I do sing a lot in my spare time and I’ve certainly been known to belt out a few songs on the job site,” he says. “I see myself doing this for a long time to come.”
Tickets for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (6, 7, 12, 13 and 14 March) can be purchased through Albury Entertainment Centre. To learn more about the cast and creative team behind the cloak go to Livid Productions on Facebook.
