Jesus Christ Superstar Review by Natalie Anglesey

 

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

   THE LOWRY, SALFORD 21-25th MAY 2024

                                              Review by Natalie Anglesey



The first time I saw Jesus Christ Superstar was in the seventies when it opened in London. I’d been living and working abroad and, much as I’d loved it, I was looking forward to returning home and enjoying some West End Theatre. We paid a great deal of money to see this new, acclaimed production and it was worth every penny!

By the time the show closed in London after eight years, it had become the longest –running musical in West End history. After sold-out runs in the UK, as well as extensive tours, both at home and abroad, there's now the chance for you to enjoy this brand new Olivier Award-winning, re-imagined production, by Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. It certainly breathes new life into this familiar story which is at The Lowry in  Salford until Saturday. 

This well-loved story is given a new edge with live music played on stage throughout  highlighting the musicianship of the actors. It still retains the wonderful score by Emmy, GRAMMY, Oscar and Tony Award winners,  Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Hit  songs include Superstar, Everything's Alright, and I Don’t Know How to Love Him. You should fight to get a ticket to see this modern dress production which is directed by Timothy Sheader with choreography by Drew McOnie. The set Design is by Tom Scutt, lighting design by Lee Curran, sound design by Nick Lidster and music supervision by Tom Deering.


If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s set against an extraordinary series of events during the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ, as seen through the eyes of Judas, one of his disciples.  I’ve seen many of these different productions, and it's no wonder this global phenomenon has wowed audiences over the decades. 

Producer David Ian said: “I am thrilled to be taking this award-winning production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s much loved musical JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR to The Lowry. Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has created a fresh and bold new version of a beloved classic to thrill both longtime fans of the show and delight those seeing it for the very first time”.


This production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR won the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival and the 2016 Evening Standard Award for Best Musical, selling out two consecutive engagements in 2016 and 2017. This new production played a West End engagement at the Barbican in 2019 before returning to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in a concert version during the summer of 2020.


The cast includes charismatic performances from Ian McIntosh in the role of Jesus and Shem Omari James as Judas, while Hannah Richardson sings the role of Mary. They are joined on stage by Ryan O’Donnell as Pilate, Jad Habchi plays Caiaphas, Joshua Hawkins is Peter while Stephen Lewis-Johnston takes the role of Annas. There's also an excellent supporting cast.

The 2023-2024 UK Tour of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is produced by David Ian for Crossroads Live and Work Light Productions.  I urge you to see this stunning production which brought a standing ovation from an appreciative audience. You won’t regret it!

 JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR  Tuesday 14th to Saturday 21st May 2024  https://thelowry.com



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