Sam Ryder to lead cast of Jesus Christ Superstar to the North East
Eurovision star confirmed for major UK tour with stops in Newcastle and Sunderland
North East audiences will get two chances to experience one of musical theatre’s most enduring rock operas when Jesus Christ Superstar returns to the region in 2027 as part of a major new UK tour.
Following acclaimed West End runs at London Palladium and Theatre Royal Drury Lane, the new production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical - produced by Newcastle’s Michael Harrison - will be at Newcastle Theatre Royal from March 16-27.
The production’s second coming will see the show grace the stage at Sunderland Empire from September 14-18.
Singer-songwriter Sam Ryder - who shot to international fame after representing the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 - will take on the role of Jesus for the duration of the tour.
Directed by Tim Sheader, with choreography by Olivier Award-winner Drew McOnie and design by Tony and Olivier Award-winner Tom Scutt, the tour reunites the creative team behind the celebrated 2016 Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production.
Michael, who formed partnership Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals with Lord Webber in 2022, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Jesus Christ Superstar will embark on a major UK tour following the phenomenal response to this extraordinary new production.
“The tremendous buzz generated by Saturday night’s first performance at The London Palladium underlines just how special this iconic musical remains, and we are thrilled that audiences across the country will now have the opportunity to experience Tim Sheader’s visionary staging, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary score, and Sam Ryder’s electrifying performance.”
Told through the eyes of Judas, Jesus Christ Superstar charts the final days of Jesus Christ1 against a score that helped redefine musical theatre when it first arrived as a concept album in 1970.
Songs including I Don’t Know How to Love Him, Gethsemane and Superstar helped turn it into a global phenomenon. The show opened on Broadway in 1971 before its original London production ran for more than eight years, becoming the West End’s longest-running musical at the time.
Tickets for both runs are on sale now via the Newcastle Theatre Royal and Sunderland Empire websites.
The production will be in Newcastle for a performance on Good Friday, which has got to be considered a bit of a contextual tour bonus?