Sam Ryder plays Jesus in the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre production of the Rice and Lloyd Webber rock opera, in a 12-week season at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Eurovision’s Sam Ryder plays Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in Covent Garden, from Friday 16 October 2026 to Saturday 9 January 2027. He made his name with “Space Man”, and this is his theatre debut.
Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote the rock opera, which follows the last days of Jesus as Judas sees them. Its score includes “I Don’t Know How to Love Him”, “Gethsemane” and the title song “Superstar”.
Tim Sheader directs, with choreography by Drew McOnie and design by Tom Scutt. The three made the Olivier Award-winning production at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in 2016, and have staged it again ten years on.
The run follows a summer season at The London Palladium, from 20 June to 5 September 2026. Its producer, Michael Harrison, says it is the first time a Rice and Lloyd Webber musical has played the Lane.
King Herod changes every week or two. Matt Bomer plays him until 31 October, followed by Rob Brydon, Reece Shearsmith, Bob The Drag Queen, Michael Ball, Simon Russell Beale, Omid Djalili and Layton Williams. Glenn Close takes the final week from 4 January.