The UK tour of the Olivier Award-winning reimagined production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s celebrated musical Jesus Christ Superstar is set to take the stage at New Theatre Oxford from Monday, 06 May.
Ian McIntosh (We Will Rock You, Follies, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – Olivier nominated for ‘Best Supporting Actor in a Musical) will play Jesus, Shem Omari James (Dreamgirls UK Tour) will play Judas and Hannah Richardson (Sting’s The Last Ship) plays Mary.
Produced by David Ian for Crossroads Live and Work Light Productions, who present the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production, Jesus Christ Superstar embarked on its 2023/24 UK tour following an opening at Manchester’s Palace Theatre on 11 September 2023.
It then visited Newcastle, Hull, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Plymouth, Wolverhampton, Bradford, Nottingham, Ipswich, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leicester, Stoke, Bristol, Crawley, Southampton, Norwich, Eastbourne, Birmingham, before arriving in Oxford on Monday 06 May 2024.
The production will visit Wimbledon, Woking, Sunderland, Canterbury, Sheffield, Llandudno, Torquay, Dartford, Cheltenham, Blackpool, Bromley, Inverness and Truro, with further tour dates to be announced.
Featuring lyrics and music by Emmy, GRAMMY, Oscar and Tony winners Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, this production was reimagined by London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, where it originated and is helmed by director Timothy Sheader and choreographer Drew McOnie. Completing the creative team is design by Tom Scutt, lighting design by Lee Curran, sound design by Nick Lidster and music supervision by Tom Deering.
“A gorgeous, thrilling, heavenly musical.”
—The Guardian
“Hallelujah! An almighty revelation.”
—The Daily Telegraph
A global phenomenon that has wowed audiences for decades, Jesus Christ Superstar’s iconic 1970s rock score was originally released as a concept album and opened on Broadway in 1971 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre. The original London production ran for over eight years. By the time it closed, after 3,358 performances, it had become the longest-running musical in West End history at that time.
Jesus Christ Superstar has been reproduced regularly around the world in the years since its first appearance, with performances including a Broadway revival in 2012, an ITV competition TV show called Superstar that led to casting Ben Forster as Jesus in an arena tour of the show, and a production at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre celebrating 45 years since the musical’s Broadway debut.
Jesus Christ Superstar is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary series of events during the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ – including his entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, his betrayal by Judas, his trial by the Roman authorities, and ultimately his crucifixion and resurrection – as seen through the eyes of Judas.
The musical is known for its catchy rock music, thought-provoking lyrics, and innovative storytelling approach. Reflecting the rock roots that defined a generation, the legendary score includes ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’, ‘Gethsemane’ and ‘Superstar’.
This production of Jesus Christ Superstar won the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival and the 2016 Evening Standard Award for Best Musical, selling out two consecutive engagements in 2016 and 2017.
The production played a West End engagement at the Barbican in 2019 before returning to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in concert version during the summer of 2020. The UK Tour runs in tandem with the hugely successful North America tour of the production, which has to date played over 700 performances in over 90 venues since the tour opened in October 2019.
The 2023/24 UK Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar is produced by David Ian for Crossroads Live and Work Light Productions. The original production was produced by London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
