Whatโs the buzz? Tell me whatโs happeningโฆ
Well, Cardiff, hereโs whatโs bloody happening.
One of the most famous rock musicals ever created is heading back to Wales, and this time thereโs one hell of a voice at the centre of it.
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR will take over the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff from Tuesday 2 March to Saturday 13 March 2027, as part of a huge UK tour starring Sam Ryder as Jesus.
Yep.
THAT Sam Ryder.
Eurovision hero. Massive hair. Even bigger voice. A bloke seemingly capable of hitting notes normally reserved for dolphins and guitar feedback. ๐๐ค
And now heโs tackling one of musical theatreโs most demanding rock roles.
Cardiff could be in for something special.
๐ญ JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR โ CARDIFF 2027
๐ Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
๐
Tuesday 2 March โ Saturday 13 March 2027
๐ค Starring Sam Ryder as Jesus
๐ธ Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
โ๏ธ Lyrics by Tim Rice
The Cardiff dates come near the beginning of the showโs enormous 2027 UK tour. After opening in Manchester in February, the production heads across the border to Cardiff before continuing around Britain.
And for rock fans who normally wouldnโt go anywhere near musical theatre?
Pay attention to this one.
Because Jesus Christ Superstar has riffs.
๐ธ BEFORE THE WEST END, THERE WAS THE ALBUM
One of the coolest things about Jesus Christ Superstar is that it wasnโt originally your traditional stage musical.
It began life as a rock opera concept album, with music from Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics from Tim Rice.
The album arrived in 1970, before the show exploded onto Broadway the following year.
Its combination of progressive rock, psychedelic sounds, enormous vocals and theatrical storytelling helped make Jesus Christ Superstar unlike almost anything musical theatre audiences had experienced before.
The original Broadway production opened in 1971 and received five Tony Award nominations, including Best Original Score.
The London production would subsequently become a monster success, running for more than eight years and becoming the West Endโs longest-running musical at the time.
More than half a century later, the thing still absolutely rocks.
โ๏ธ SO WHATโS JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR ACTUALLY ABOUT?
If youโve somehow avoided it for the last 50-plus years, hereโs the quick version.
Jesus Christ Superstar tells the story of the final days of Jesus Christ, with much of the story viewed through the eyes of Judas Iscariot.
That gives the story a very different perspective.
Rather than simply retelling familiar biblical events, the musical digs into fame, loyalty, politics, doubt, betrayal and the increasingly complicated relationship between Jesus and Judas.
And it does all of that withโฆ
ROCK MUSIC.
Big vocals.
Big guitars.
Huge choruses.
Drama turned up to eleven.
Basically, if someone asks us what happens when biblical history wanders into a 1970s rock clubโฆ
This.
This happens.
๐ค AND THEN THEREโS SAM RYDERโฆ
Now THIS is where things get particularly interesting.
Sam Ryder will play Jesus on the UK tour following his West End performances in the role.
And if youโve heard the man sing, youโll understand why weโre excited.
Most people will know Ryder from his spectacular run at Eurovision 2022, where SPACE MAN finished second and delivered the UKโs best Eurovision result in more than two decades.
But rock fans know thereโs considerably more power hiding behind that grin and magnificent mane.
His vocal range is frankly ridiculous.
Which matters when youโre singingโฆ
๐ฅ GETHSEMANE.
Oh yes.
Anyone familiar with musical theatre knows Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say) is one of the monster vocal performances.
Itโs the musical theatre equivalent of someone handing you a guitar and saying:
โRight then. Play Eruption.โ
No pressure, butt. ๐
๐ถ THOSE SONGSโฆ
The Jesus Christ Superstar score has become legendary.
Among the massive numbers youโll hear are:
๐ค Superstar
๐ฅ Gethsemane
โค๏ธ I Donโt Know How to Love Him
๐ธ Heaven on Their Minds
๐ถ Everythingโs Alright
๐ Damned for All Time
๐ King Herodโs Song
โก Whatโs the Buzz
Thereโs progressive rock.
Thereโs gospel.
Thereโs funk.
Thereโs psychedelic weirdness.
Thereโs theatrical bombast.
And there are enough massive vocals to leave your throat hurting just listening to them.
๐ THIS PRODUCTION HAS SERIOUS PEDIGREE
This isnโt some hastily assembled touring version either.
The production originated at Regentโs Park Open Air Theatre and won the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival.
Itโs directed by Timothy Sheader, with choreography by Olivier Award winner Drew McOnie and design by Tony and Olivier Award winner Tom Scutt.
Following its West End engagements, the production launches a massive UK tour in February 2027.
And Cardiff is right there near the beginning.
Tidy.
๐ท WHAT ABOUT CARDIFF TICKET PRICES?
Tickets for the Cardiff run are on sale through the Wales Millennium Centre.
Prices vary depending on the performance, seating location and availability, so itโs worth checking the venueโs booking system for the exact seats youโre after.
With the show running in Cardiff for nearly two weeks, there are plenty of performances to choose from โ but with Sam Ryder sitting at the top of the poster, we wouldnโt exactly bank on the best seats hanging around forever.
๐ค THIS ONEโS FOR THE ROCK FANS TOO
Hereโs the thing.
We know what some of you are thinking.
โMusicals? Nah mun, give me Download Festival.โ
We hear you.
But Jesus Christ Superstar isnโt your average musical.
This thing came out of the same musical landscape that gave us progressive rock, hard rock and the increasingly adventurous sounds of the late โ60s and early โ70s.
Itโs loud.
Itโs dramatic.
Itโs occasionally completely bonkers.
And when that title track kicks into gearโฆ
Youโll understand.
There are plenty of rock and metal fans who could walk into the Wales Millennium Centre thinking theatre isnโt their thing and walk back out humming:
SUPERSTAAAAAR!
Thatโs how they get you. ๐
๐ธ THE RIFF REPORT VERDICT
March 2027 is looking VERY tasty for Cardiff.
Weโve got one of musical theatreโs defining rock operas.
Weโve got an Olivier Award-winning production.
Weโve got one of Britainโs most ridiculous vocal talents playing Jesus.
And weโve got nearly two weeks of it happening right here in Wales.
Whether youโre a lifelong musical theatre obsessive, a Sam Ryder fan, a prog-rock nerd or a metalhead wondering what all the fuss is aboutโฆ
Give this one a look.
Because more than 50 years after it first arrivedโฆ
Jesus Christ Superstar still ROCKS.
And in March 2027โฆ
CARDIFF GETS THE BUZZ. ๐คโ๏ธ๐ฅ
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
๐ Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
๐
2โ13 March 2027
๐ค Starring Sam Ryder as Jesus
๐๏ธ Tickets on sale now
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. ๐ค๐ด
