Sam Ryder-led 'Jesus Christ Superstar' to run at Theatre Royal Drury Lane following Palladium summer season

Sam Ryder will perform "Gethsemane" live this Saturday night on 16 May, when he appears on Britain’s Got Talent, from 6pm on ITV1.

Summary

• Jesus Christ Superstar will head to Theatre Royal Drury Lane following its summer season as the Palladium
• Sam Ryder will continue as Jesus
• The musical follows the last days ofJesus as seen through the eyes of Judas

The Sam Ryder-led Jesus Christ Superstar will extend performances for a 12-week run at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, following its summer season at at The London Palladium. The musical will run at Drury Lane from 16 October to 9 January 2027.

Sam Ryder will continue as Jesus at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, along with Desmonda Cathabel as Mary Magdalene, David Thaxton as Pontius Pilate, Bob Harms as Caiaphas, Matty J as Annas, and Phil King as Peter.

The company is completed by Koko Alexandra, Jasmine Jules Andrews, Courtney Arango, Amy Barker, Alistair Beattie, Daniel Bowskill, Jahlil M Burke, Martha Burton, Marcelo Cervone, Sarah Freer, Sebastian Goffin, Alexander Kranz, Owen Lloyd, Milo McCarthy, Dan Moore, Cherece Richards, Kyle Richardson, Olivia Saunders, Toyan Thomas-Browne, Charley Warburton and Lillie-Pearl Wildman.

Casting for Judas Iscariot, Simon and King Herod for performances at Drury Lane will be announced in due course.

Producer Michael Harrison said: “The response to Jesus Christ Superstar has been nothing short of phenomenal, with demand for tickets at the London Palladium already breaking all time box office records. In light of this I am delighted to confirm that the production will follow its limited Palladium engagement with a further 12-week season at London’s other great iconic theatre, the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, ensuring many more people have the opportunity to experience the extraordinary Sam Ryder in this legendary musical. I am also extremely proud that this is the first time a Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber musical will have played at the Lane”.

Ryder will perform "Gethsemane" live this Saturday night on 16 May, when he appears on Britain’s Got Talent, from 6pm on ITV1. The new recording of "Gethsemane" will then be available to listen to on all streaming platforms from Saturday evening.

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical is directed by Tim Sheader, with choreography by Olivier Award winner Drew McOnie and design by Tony and Olivier Award winner Tom Scutt. They reunite following the 2016 Regent's Park Open Air production. The creative team is completed by musical supervisor Tom Deering, lighting designer Lee Curran, sound designer Adam Fisher, wigs, hair and makeup designers Sam Cox and Maria Johal, and fight director Kate Waters.

Jesus Christ Superstar follows the events of the last days of the life of Jesus Christ, as seen through the eyes of Judas.

Book Jesus Christ Superstar tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Sam Ryder. (Photo by Jack Robinson)