NEWS: Julian Clary announced in Jesus Christ Superstar at The King’s Theatre Glasgow

The King’s Theatre Glasgow has announced that Jesus Christ Superstar, produced by David Ian for Crossroads Live and Work Light Productions, will star Julian Clary in the role of Herod. This Oliver Award-winning reimagined production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s celebrated musical will also star Ian McIntosh as Jesus, Shem Omari James as Judas and Hannah Richardson as Mary.

Julian Clary said: ‘I am so thrilled to be a part of this amazing production and look forward to presenting my crazed, queer, imperious King Herod. I’m thinking Putin meets Cleopatra with a hint of Biggins.’

Julian’s career began working on the cabaret circuit in the early 80s as The Joan Collins Fan Club. Following an appearance on Saturday Night Live, Channel 4 offered him his own show, Sticky Moments. More TV followed, including Terry and Julian, All Rise for Julian Clary, Prickly Heat, It’s Only TV But I Like It, Strictly Come Dancing, Have I Got News For You, Who Do You Think You Are?, QI, Celebrity Big Brother, Your Face Sounds Familiar, Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, Give a Pet a Home, Nature Nuts and Passions. His theatre credits include Leigh Bowery in Boy George’s Taboo, the Emcee in Rufus Norris’s Olivier Award-winning production of Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret and Le Grand Mort, Norman in The Dresser, Bleak Expectations.

Julian is a regular panellist on Radio 4’s Just a Minute. His writing includes his memoir A Young Man’s Passage, several adult novels and his on-going series for children, The Bolds. His latest memoir The Lick of Love was published in 2021. In December 2023, Julian will be appearing in Peter Pan, which will be his eighth consecutive appearance at The London Palladium.

He will be taking part in a global phenomenon that has wowed audiences for decades, with its iconic 1970s rock score, which was originally released as a concept album and opened on Broadway in 1971 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre. The original London production ran for over 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. Jesus Christ Superstar has been reproduced regularly around the world in the years since its first appearance, with performances including a Broadway revival in 2012, an ITV competition TV show called Superstar that led to casting Ben Forster as Jesus in an arena tour of the show, and a production at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre celebrating 45 years since the musical’s Broadway debut.

The story is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary series of events during the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ, as seen through the eyes of Judas. Reflecting the rock roots that defined a generation, the legendary score includes ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’, ‘Gethsemane’ and ‘Superstar’.

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. The production played a West End engagement at the Barbican in 2019 before returning to Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in concert version during the summer of 2020. The UK Tour runs in tandem with the hugely successful North America tour of the production which has to date played over 700 performances in over 90 venues since the tour opened in October 2019.

This production is helmed by director Timothy Sheader and choreographer Drew McOnie. Completing the creative team is design by Tom Scutt, lighting design by Lee Curran, sound design by Nick Lidster and music supervision by Tom Deering.

Julian Clary plays the role of Herod in Manchester, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Liverpool. Casting for other venues is to be announced.

LISTINGS

Jesus Christ Superstar

Mon 16 – Sat 21 Oct 2023

King’s Theatre Glasgow

Mon – Sat at 7.30pm

Wed and Sat at 2.30pm

atgtickets.com/Glasgow

SCOTTISH TOUR DATES

Aberdeen, His Majesty’s Theatre

10 – 14 October 2023

www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/his-majestys-theatre