London News
London Jesus Christ Superstar Revival Casts Some Starry King Herrods
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Simon Russell Beale, Richard Armitage, Boy George, Layton Williams, and Julian Clary will share the role.
February 23, 2026 By Logan Culwell-Block
One King Herod is simply not enough for London's upcoming West End revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Jesus Christ Superstar, due to play a limited season at the London Palladium June 20–September 5. Opening night will by July 7.
The production will welcome six starry names as Herod over that run, including Jesse Tyler Ferguson (June 20-July 11), Simon Russell Beale (July 13-25), Richard Armitage (July 27-August 1), Boy George (August 3-15), Layton William (August 17-29), and Julian Clary (August 31-September 5). Boy George will not perform August 8. As previously announced, singer-songwriter and TikTok sensation Sam Ryder will star in the title role.
“All different but all fabulous, we are thrilled that these six artists will take a turn demanding Jesus walk across their swimming pool as the infamously camp but lethal King Herod," says director Tim Sheader in a statement. "Choose to see any one of them and we promise, for a golden moment, they will stop this juggernaut of a show in its glitter filled tracks.”
The revival will be a new mounting of director Sheader and choreographer Drew McOnie's 2016 production from 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 musical 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.
Tickets are at London.JesusChristSuperstar.com.
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