Sam Ryder, © Jack Robinson
Lead casting has been revealed for The London Palladium run of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Slated for a limited season next summer, the show tells the story of the final weeks of Jesus’s life, focusing on his relationship with Judas Iscariot and the political and emotional tensions surrounding his crucifixion.
The show premiered on Broadway in 1971, with a West End premiere the following year. It was last seen in London at the Barbican Theatre in 2019, with a regional tour in 2024 and a recent actor-musician revival at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury.
We’ve covered the run and on-sale details in a dedicated story here.
Set to star will be Sam Ryder, making his official West End debut in the role of Jesus. He said today: “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! I’m honoured 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.”
Producer Michael Harrison said: “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. 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.”
Further casting, including some very fun plans, for Timothy Sheader’s Palladium staging will be revealed in due course.
The original London production ran for over eight years from 1972. By the time it closed, after 3,358 performances, it had become the longest-running musical in West End history at that time.
