Matt Bomer, Michael Ball, Reece Shearsmith join 'Jesus Christ Superstar' at Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Rob Brydon, Bob The Drag Queen, Simon Russell Beale, Omid Djalili, and Layton Williams will also play King Herod in the production, which begins performances on 16 October.

Summary

• Jesus Christ Superstar announces the actors playing Herod at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
• Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical plays from October
• The line-up includes Matt Bomer; Michael Ball and Reece Shearsmith
• It also features Rob Brydon; Layton Williams and Bob The Drag Queen

Jesus Christ Superstar has announced the incredible line-up of actors who will play King Herod in the major West End revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's biblical musical, joining the previously announced Sam Ryder as Jesus. The show runs at Theatre Royal Drury Lane from 16 October to 9 January 2027.

First up in the role of Herod is Golden Globe-winning stage and screen actor Matt Bomer (16-31 October), followed by: actor, comedian and presenter Rob Brydon (2-7 November); BAFTA-winning peformer and writer Reece Shearsmith (9-14 November); RuPaul's Drag Race winner Bob The Drag Queen (16-21 November); Olivier Award-winning performer and broadcaster Michael Ball (23 November-5 December); Olivier and Tony-winning actor Simon Russell Beale (7-12 December); acclaimed comedian and actor Omid Djalili (14-19 December); and Olivier-winning actor, singer and dancer Layton Williams (21 December 2026 to 2 January 2027), who will first play Herod at the London Palladium in August. One final king for January is to be announced.

The production is directed by Tim Sheader with choreography by Olivier Award winner Drew McOnie and design by Tony and Olivier Award winner Tom Scutt, reuniting the creative team who worked on the hit 2016 production of Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.

Jesus Christ Superstar runs at the London Palladium from 20 June to 5 September, before moving to Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

The musical follows the events of the last days of the life of Jesus Christ, as seen through the eyes of Judas, with a score that includes "I Don’t Know How to Love Him", "Gethsemane", and the almighty title number "Superstar".

The rest of the creative team includes musical supervisor Tom Deering, lighting designer Lee Curran, sound designer Adam Fisher, and fight director Kate Waters.

Book Jesus Christ Superstar tickets for the Palladium and Theatre Royal Drury Lane runs on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: The actors playing Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar at Theatre Royal Drury Lane (Photo courtesy of the production)