York-based theatre company are pushing the boundaries of local theatre with edgy staging of classic rock musical.
Inspired By Theatre are set to stage a ‘bold and haunting’ new staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s legendary rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre from Wednesday 11 to Saturday 14 February 2026.
The musical follows the final days of Jesus as loyalties fracture, followers demand revolution, and rulers fear rebellion – and features well-beloved like ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’, ‘Gethsemane’ and ‘Superstar’.
Inspired By Theatre was founded in 2022 (originally as Bright Light Musical Productions), and are known for bringing high-energy rock musicals to the stage such as their previous shows Rent and American Idiot.
Jesus Christ Superstar is directed by Dan Crawfurd-Porter with additional direction and choreography by Freya McIntosh and musical direction by Matthew Peter Clare.
“What defines this production is its intensity,” said director Dan Crawfurd-Porter.
“The staging is bold, the choreography demands everything from the cast, and the individual performances are so powerful. There’s no coasting, no safe choices. We’re embracing a visual and physical language that gives the story a new edge.
“It’s a Jesus Christ Superstar that commits fully to the story’s momentum and spectacle.”
The production features Iain Harvey as Jesus, Kelly Ann Bolland as Judas, Rianna Pearce as Mary Magdalene, Kailum Farmery as Simon Zealotes, Richard Bayton as Peter, Josh Woodgate as Pilate, Mickey Moran as King Herod, Joseph Hayes as Caiaphas, and Gi Vasey as Annas.
The cast is completed with Jack Fry, Charlie Clarke, Molly Whitehouse, Tiggy-Jade, Maddie Jones, Pete Stanford, Megan Overton, Anna Ashfield, Emily Pratt, and Jasmine Barnard.
It’s set to be an exciting 2026 for Inspired By Theatre, as their upcoming shows for the year also include Spring Awakening and Our House.
Tickets for Jesus Christ Superstar are on sale at £20 – and there’s a special early-bird discount this month!
Audiences booking in December can enjoy an exclusive 20% discount using the code SUPERSTAR20 at checkout.
Find out more and book your tickets at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre website.
