Once controversial and now reincarnated. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Jesus Christ Superstar has risen from the ashes 53 years after bursting onto the music scene.
And it’s a very different show from the original concept which was seen as irreverent in some circles. A packed house welcomed the UK tour to the King’s Theatre in Glasgow for the opening night and we were swept away by powerful performances, music, scenery and costumes.
Under the direction of Tim Sheader and design by Tom Scutt, it’s breathtaking from the beginning with the cast running from all sides of the theatre onto the stage to make the most dramatic of starts.
Ex Royal Conservatorie of Scotland student Grant Walsh is musical director and brings real panache and passion to the performance.
The cast is impressive too, with Ian McIntosh as Jesus, Shem Omari James (Judas), Hannah Richardson (Mary), Ryan O’Donnell (Pilate), Jad Habchi (Caiaphas) Matt Bateman (Annas) and Timo Tatzber (Herod). All are comfortable in their roles and have strong singing voices.
The new version of Christ’s last days is darker and more of a non-stop song shop, with plenty of energy, visuals and impressive lighting.
It’s loud and brash and at times it’s not always easy to hear the words being sung clearly, but the show works.
The tense, smoke filled atmosphere works brilliantly with the industrial looking set and lies well with Christopher Tendai’s excellent choreography.
It’s a demanding show and the cast look physically and mentally exhausted by the end of it. A special shout out to the band who are mainly hidden on set. Made up of Felix Stickland, Ryan Webber, Gordon Davidson, Laura Llewellyn Jones, Gavin Tate-Lovery, David Csizmadia and Vanessa Domonique, their panache adds to the drama of this truly uplifting show.
Jesus Christ Superstar runs at the King’s Theatre in Glasgow until Saturday 3rd August and then moves to its final showing at Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre from 5th to 10th August 2024. Tickets are available via www.atgtickets.com.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2.
Photographs courtesy of Jesus Christ Superstar
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