Godspell tours UK from Spring 2015

Godspell, the rock musical from Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz, will tour the UK next year following the success of a one-off gala performance in the West End earlier this year.

According to press material, the tour will feature "a brand new, modern-day rock score packed to the heavens with favourites such as 'Light of the World', 'All Good Gifts' and 'Day by Day'." It is based on the 2011 Broadway revival.

Kenneth Avery Clark directs the production with Russell Scott as musical director of a "spectacular new orchestration".

"Since the West End gala, we have worked tirelessly to bring Godspell back to the UK and on tour for the first time in almost ten years in our new semi-staged concert format," said Scott.

A modern-day song-and-dance recreation of St Matthew's gospel, Godspell begins with John the Baptist gathering up followers and concludes with Jesus' crucifixion in a junkyard.

The tour kicks off at Hackney Empire on 4 and 5 April 2015, before visiting venues including Southampton, Cardiff, Swansea, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Oxford, Hull, Glasgow, Blackpool and Northampton.

Casting is still to be announced.