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Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar has unveiled an eight-strong rotating cast of performers who will each take on the role of King Herod during the production’s run at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London’s West End.
The production, which features Sam Ryder in the role of Jesus, will play a limited 12-week engagement at Theatre Royal Drury Lane from Friday 16 October 2026 to Saturday 9 January 2027, following an 11-week summer season at The London Palladium running from Saturday 20 June to Saturday 5 September 2026.
The Herod Line-Up
The rotating cast of King Herods includes Matt Bomer (16 – 31 October), Rob Brydon (2 – 7 November), Reece Shearsmith (9 – 14 November), Bob The Drag Queen (16 – 21 November), Michael Ball (23 November – 5 December), Simon Russell Beale (7 – 12 December), Omid Djalili (14 – 19 December) and Layton Williams (21 December 2026 – 2 January 2027).
One further King Herod is yet to be confirmed for the final week of performances from 4 to 9 January 2027.
Williams returns to the stage for the Drury Lane run having already performed two weeks at The London Palladium in August.
A Mix Of Stage And Screen Names
The cast draws from a broad cross-section of stage, screen and comedy talent.
Matt Bomer is a Golden Globe Award-winning and Emmy Award-nominated Actor known for his role as con artist Neal Caffrey in the series White Collar and for his performance in Fellow Travelers. His theatre credits include the Broadway production of The Boys in the Band. The Drury Lane engagement marks Bomer’s West End debut.
Rob Brydon MBE is an Actor, Comedian and Presenter known for his role as Uncle Bryn in Gavin and Stacey and as Host of the comedy panel show Would I Lie to You? He has also appeared alongside Steve Coogan in the series The Trip.
Reece Shearsmith is a BAFTA Award-winning Actor, Writer and Comedian, known as a member of The League of Gentlemen. He co-created and starred in Psychoville and the nine-series BAFTA Award-winning anthology Inside No. 9. His stage credits include Ghost Stories and the stage adaptation Inside No. 9 – Stage/Fright.
Bob The Drag Queen, also known as Caldwell Tidicue, is a Comedian, Actor and Drag Performer who won Season 8 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. He co-hosts HBO’s We’re Here and the podcast Sibling Rivalry with Monet X Change. He made his Broadway debut earlier this year as Harold Zidler in Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
Michael Ball OBE is a double Olivier Award-winning Singer, Actor and Broadcaster. He won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performances as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray and in the title role of Sweeney Todd. He originated the role of Marius in Les Miserables and Alex in Aspects of Love, the latter of which he also performed on Broadway.
Sir Simon Russell Beale holds three Olivier Awards, two BAFTAs, one Tony Award and a knighthood for services to drama. His screen work includes The Death of Stalin, Mary Queen of Scots and The Choral.
Omid Djalili is a Comedian and Actor whose film credits include Gladiator, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and The Mummy. His theatre credits include playing Fagin in Oliver! at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Layton Williams is an Olivier Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated Actor, Singer and Dancer known for his performances in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Cabaret and Titanique. The latter earned him an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical in 2025 and a Tony Award nomination in 2026. He is also known for reaching the final of Strictly Come Dancing and for his role as Stephen in the TV series Bad Education.
The Production
Jesus Christ Superstar is Directed by Tim Sheader with choreography by Olivier Award-winner Drew McOnie and design by Tony and Olivier Award-winner Tom Scutt. The staging reunites the creative team behind the 2016 production, which was originally created and produced at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
The wider creative team includes Musical Supervisor Tom Deering, Lighting Designer Lee Curran, Sound Designer Adam Fisher, Wigs, Hair and Makeup Designers Sam Cox and Maria Johal, Fight Director Kate Waters and Casting Directors Grindrod Burton Casting.
The show follows the events of the last days of the life of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of Judas. The score includes the numbers “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” “Gethsemane” and the title track “Superstar.”
A Long History
Jesus Christ Superstar was originally released as an album before opening on Broadway in 1971 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre, where it received five Tony Award nominations including Best Original Score.
The original London production ran for more than eight years. By the time it closed after 3,358 performances, it had become the longest-running musical in West End history at that time.
Sam Ryder has released new recordings of Gethsemane and What’s The Buzz?, which are available on all streaming platforms. The tracks, with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, were produced by Fraser T. Smith alongside Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sam Ryder, recorded live to tape at British Grove Studios.
Producer’s Other Work
Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals’ other productions include the double Olivier Award-winning Evita at The London Palladium, which transfers to Broadway in spring 2027, along with the seven-time Olivier Award and three-time Tony Award-winning revival of Sunset Blvd. and Starlight Express, which will embark on a world tour in spring 2027.
The company has also opened CATS: The Jellicle Ball on Broadway, which received three Tony Award wins, and is bringing a new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre this summer ahead of a UK tour.
The London Palladium season runs Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm with Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Press night is scheduled for Tuesday 7 July 2026. The Theatre Royal Drury Lane season follows the same performance schedule, with a gala night on Tuesday 27 October 2026.
Tickets are available via london.jesuschristsuperstar.com.
Full Cast
Jesus – Sam Ryder
Judas Iscariot – Tyrone Huntley* at The London Palladium with casting for Theatre Royal Drury Lane TBA
[Please note Tyrone Huntley will not be performing on 10 July and on Wednesdays from 15 July]
Mary Magdalene – Desmonda Cathabel
Pontius Pilate – David Thaxton King Herod –
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (20 Jun – 11 Jul) at The London Palladium
Richard Armitage (13 Jul – 1 Aug & 8 Aug) at The London Palladium
Boy George* (3 – 15 Aug) at The London Palladium [please note, he will not be performing Saturday 8 August]
Layton Williams (17 – 29 Aug) at The London Palladium
Julian Clary (31 Aug – 5 Sep) at The London Palladium
Matt Bomer (16 – 31 Oct) at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Rob Brydon (2 – 7 Nov) at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Reece Shearsmith (9 – 14 Nov) at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Bob The Drag Queen (16 – 21 Nov) at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Michael Ball (23 Nov – 5 Dec) at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Simon Russell Beale (7 – 12 Dec) at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Omid Djalili (14 – 19 Dec) at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Layton Williams (21 Dec – 2 Jan) at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Caiaphas – Bob Harms
Annas – Matty J
Simon/Alternate Judas – Billy Nevers* at The London Palladium with casting for Theatre Royal Drury Lane TBA
[Please note Billy will perform the role of Judas on Wednesdays from 15 July]
Peter – Phil King
Soul Singer/Ensemble – Koko Alexandra
Ensemble – Jasmine Jules Andrews
Resident Choreographer/Swing/Co-Dance Captain – Courtney Arango
Swing – Amy Barker
Swing – Alistair Beattie
Ensemble/Fight Captain – Daniel Bowskill
Ensemble – Jahlil M Burke
Ensemble – Martha Burton
Ensemble – Marcelo Cervone
Soul Singer/Ensemble – Sarah Freer
Swing/Co-Dance Captain – Sebastian Goffin
Swing – Alexander Kranz
Ensemble – Owen Lloyd
Ensemble – Milo McCarthy
Ensemble – Dan Moore
Soul Singer/Ensemble – Cherece Richards
Ensemble – Kyle Richardson
Ensemble – Olivia Saunders
Ensemble – Toyan Thomas-Browne
Mob Leader/Ensemble – Charley Warburton
Ensemble – Lillie-Pearl Wildman
