Andrew Lloyd Webber visits Jesus Christ Superstar cast at Watermill Theatre

Andrew Lloyd Webber recently paid a visit to the critically acclaimed Watermill Theatre revival of Jesus Christ Superstar.

The venue’s artistic director and joint CEO Paul Hart, who helmed the new production, commented: “It was our great pleasure to welcome Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber to the Watermill for our production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Spending some time with the cast and crew after the show, he talked about his long relationship with Watermill going back to when David Gollins converted the building into the theatre we know and love today. He was full of praise for the amazing team who bring the piece to life in its most intimate production to date.”

Speaking about the production afterwards, Lloyd Webber said: “Congratulations to the wonderful company of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Watermill Theatre. I wish you all the best for the rest of your run.”

Executive director and joint CEO Claire Murray added: “Staging Sir Tim Rice and Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber’s epic rock opera in our 200-seat theatre and gardens is a huge undertaking and we’re delighted that it’s on track to becoming our fastest and best-selling production ever. The summer production is vitally important to our sustainability as an independent charity, so it’s wonderful to see audiences flocking to the Watermill for this fantastic, immersive experience.

“We have a talented 18-strong company bringing the story to life, six of whom are at the very beginning of their professional careers. These six performers will be delivering workshops from next week, working with local young people, giving them the opportunity to meet the team and see behind the scenes. This exciting project has been made possible by funding from Greenham Trust and we’re so grateful for them for joining with us to nurture young people to develop transferable skills and help realise their potential.”

The series of free workshops begins this Thursday, 24 July.

Listen to the show being discussed in an exclusive WhatsOnStage Podcast here:

Recently awarded the full five stars from WhatsOnStage, Hart’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar, which also sees the action spilling out into the venue’s gardens, continues at the Watermill Theatre until 21 September 2025.

Told entirely through song, the rock opera follows the final days of Jesus as seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. The piece explores the relationships and struggles between Jesus, Judas, Mary Magdalene, his disciples, his followers and the Roman Empire.

The 1970s rock score features numbers such as “Superstar”, “Gethsemane” and “I Don’t Know How to Love Him”.

Starring in the actor-musician cast are Michael Kholwadia, who plays Jesus, Max Alexander-Taylor as Judas and Parisa Shahmir as Mary Magdalene. Joining them are Michali Dantes as Simon, Seb Harwood as Peter, Christian Edwards (The Sound of Music) as Pilate, Samuel Morgan-Grahame as Herod, Olugbenga Adelekan as Caiaphas, and Alexander Zane (Beautiful) as Annas.

The ensemble includes Jordan Eskeisa, Maisie Mandley, Hazel Monaghan, Tasha Chu (dance captain), Lily Françoise, Trisha Kumar, Alex Anthony Fevrier, Sebastian Hugo, and Finan McKinney, who is cover Jesus.

You can listen to Alexander-Taylor and the cast perform “Heaven on Their Minds” below. The video is captured by videographer Alex Ryland Jones and recorded at Dean St Studios:

The production features choreography by Anjali Mehra and lighting design by Rory Beaton (all three reuniting after working together on The Lord of the Rings, which has subsequently transferred worldwide), alongside set and costume design by David Woodhead, musical supervision by Stuart Morley, sound design by Tom Marshall, and video design by D T Denton. The team also includes Layla Madanat (associate director), Rebecca Kelly (musical director), Vanessa Vince-Pang (associate choreographer) and Nicola Crawford (assistant lighting designer).

The stage management team are Cat Pewsey (company stage manager), Emily Stedman (rehearsal stage manager), Geoff Field (stage manager), Richard Lodge (deputy stage manager), Caitlin Ravenscroft and Natalie Toney (assistant stage manager), and Ellie Smallbone (assistant stage manager placement).