6 Reasons to See Jesus Christ Superstar in London

Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. It was first staged on Broadway in 1971, followed by a run at the Palace Theatre in London in 1972. This new production played at the London Palladium this summer and transfers to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, due to popular demand, before embarking on a UK tour in 2027.

The musical is loosely based on the final days of Jesus Christ, told through the eyes of his disciple Judas Iscariot. Set against the backdrop of political unrest and growing interest in Jesus of Nazareth, the story concludes with a betrayal and crucifixion.

Thinking of seeing Jesus Christ Superstar in London? Check out our six reasons why you should book your tickets for this limited run.

1. A Cast That Hits All The Right Notes

There has been a lot of well-deserved praise for Sam Ryder‘s performance as Jesus in this run and the previous London Palladium run, but there isn’t a weak link anywhere. Tyrone Huntley‘s Judas can be empathised with even as he’s betraying Jesus, and Desmonda Cathabel‘s Mary Magdalene is showstopping with her performance of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him”. On the other side of the story, David Thaxton plays Pilate as just the right combination of power and reticence and Matty J as Annas and Bob Harms as Caiaphas with his incredible bass voice add a perfect rock energy to their songs.

For a fully sung through show, there’s no point where you’re left wondering what is happening in the story between the singers and the ensemble dancers.

2. An Electric Score Played By A Live Band Front and Centre

Led by MD Ben Atkinson, the 19-strong band are on stage throughout the performance, raised above the action and fully visible. With the show being over 50 years old and famously music-led, having the band so central to the design helps bring a more rock sensibility to the whole production; making it more believable as a rock show than a musical theatre production in places and somehow tempering moments of high camp before it can slide into anything else.

3. The Set Design Nailed It!

Tom Scutt‘s set and costume design both really ground the production in a rock sensibility while not making it an obvious send up of anything. There is a definite colour story across different groups of characters which helps with following the story line. The inclusion of the gallery around the edge of the stage containing the band and a small standing audience add to the scale of the production and really help it fill the spacious Drury Lane stage. The large cross that makes up much of the floor of the stage is used brilliantly, particularly during the Last Supper.

4. A Star-Studded Line-Up of Herods

“Herod’s Song” has long been my favourite part of Jesus Christ Superstar, and with a multitude of stars playing and sharing the role of King Herod over the course of the show’s run, it’s a fantastic opportunity to see a versatile approach to this character. It’s not a big part but can be tremendous fun. We saw Matt Bomer, who played brilliantly with the campness of the moment, but were already trying to work out future trips to see each of the other performers before we’d properly left the venue.

5. On-Stage Standing Gets You Closer to the Action

If you’re looking for something a little bit different in the West End, standing tickets for Jesus Christ Superstar would be a great option if you are able to stand for the length of the show. While there is a sizeable amount of information to look into before you choose these tickets (there are a lot of guidelines for what to wear and what you can and can’t bring with you which might not make them the best choice for everyone), standing on stage does mean that you are truly immersed in the production. As we were finding our way to our seats, we passed the entrance to this section and there was a definite buzz of excitement!

6. See Theatre Royal Drury Lane In All Of Its Glory

Theatre Royal Drury Lane is one of the West End’s most iconic venues for a reason. It’s a stunning building from the outside, dominating the view from the bottom of Covent Garden piazza as you approach, and just as impressive as you enter. For those who like to collect show merchandise, there’s an impressive range available in a dedicated space to the side of the grand foyer (which means plenty of space to browse before joining the queue). Or if you’d rather enjoy a drink before the performance, there are several bars as you move through the venue including the Dress Circle’s opulent Grand Saloon. We enjoyed a delicious Superstar Spritz, but the Kir Royale was tempting!

There is plenty to enjoy from this striking revival of Jesus Christ Superstar, which has captivated audiences in such a short space of time. The production feels very modernistic whilst also honouring its history on stage.

Jesus Christ Superstar plays at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane until 09 January 2027.

Where I Sat

I sat in Royal Circle H43. This is the first balcony area in the theatre, which offers good legroom and a good view of the stage overall. We were seated two seats in from the aisle, so some of the stage left was obstructed, but we didn’t miss any of the show.

Have You Seen Jesus Christ Superstar?

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Reviewed by Hannah Lewis for SeatPlan, October 2026