Jesus Christ Superstar is getting another West End revival, and it will provide a West End stage debut for singer-songwriter and TikTok sensation Sam Ryder, due to star in the title role. The Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice rock opera will play an 11-week limited season at the London Palladium June 20-September 5, 2026, officially opening July 7.
The revival will be a new mounting of director Tim Sheader and choreographer Drew McOnie's 2016 production at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, which has become one of the most frequently mounted Jesus Christ Superstars in recent years. Since its premiere, the staging has returned to Regent's Park, played London's West End, and toured both the U.S. and U.K. The production features design by Tony and Olivier winner Tom Scutt (Cabaret).
The work debuted in 1970 as a concept album, giving a rock edge to the Biblical Passion story of Jesus. The work put Lloyd Webber and Rice on the map, and continues to be one of their most beloved and produced works. In just the last few years, NBC mounted a live concert broadcast featuring John Legend, Sara Barellies, Brandon Victor Dixon, and Alice Cooper; while an all-star Hollywood Bowl staging recently starred Cynthia Erivo, Adam Lambert, and Phillipa Soo. The score includes such favorites as "I Don't Know How to Love Him," "Gethsemane," and the rousing title song.
The creative team at the Palladium will also include music supervisor Tom Deering, lighting designer Lee Curran, sound designer Adam Fisher, fight director Kate Waters, and casting director David Grindrod. Michael Harrison is producing for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, by arrangement with LW Entertainment.
“I’m so excited to be part of one of the biggest institutions in musical theatre the world’s ever known, at The London Palladium in the West End!," says Ryder in a statement. "I'm honored to take on this responsibility as I follow in the footsteps of rock vocal titans like Ian Gillan and John Farnham. I can't wait to immerse myself in the word of Jesus Christ Superstar in 2026.”
“It is thrilling to be bringing this astounding creative team from the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre production back together, and I am excited to see them create Jesus Christ Superstar specially for The London Palladium," adds Harrison. "In Sam we have a true superstar to play the iconic title role, and I look forward to sharing further announcements about the production in the coming months.”
A ticket pre-sale begins November 25 at 10 AM GMT with sign-up at London.JesusChristSuperstar.com. General sales will follow November 26 at 10 AM GMT.
