Six stars to share role of King Herod in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at London Palladium
Further casting has been announced for Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium this summer, running from 20 June - 5 September.
Joining the previously announced Sam Ryder as Jesus are an all-star line-up of six performers sharing the role of King Herod. Jesse Tyler Ferguson will play King Herod from 20 June – 11 July; Simon Russell Beale from 13 – 25 July; Richard Armitage from 27 July – 1 August; Boy George* from 3 – 15 August; Layton Williams from 17 – 29 August; and Julian Clary from 31 August – 5 September 2026. *Please note Boy George will not be performing on 8 August.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson is a Tony Award-winning actor best known for his Emmy Award-nominated role as Mitchell in the global hit sitcom Modern Family. His theatre work includes acclaimed performances in Take Me Out on Broadway, for which he received a Tony Award, as well as The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Simon Russell Beale is one of the UK’s most distinguished actors, with three Olivier Awards, two BAFTAs, one Tony Award and a knighthood for services to drama to his name. His screen work includes: The Death of Stalin, Mary Queen of Scots and The Choral.
Richard Armitage is an Olivier Award-nominated actor whose theatre credits include The Crucible and Uncle Vanya. He is internationally known for his screen roles in The Hobbit trilogy, Fool Me Once and Red Eye.
Boy George is a Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and global pop icon, best known as the frontman of Culture Club. His theatre work includes starring as Harold Zidler in Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Broadway.
Layton Williams is an Olivier Award-winning actor, singer and dancer, celebrated for his performances in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Cabaret and Titanique, the latter earning him an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical in 2025. He is also widely known for reaching the final of Strictly Come Dancing.
Julian Clary is a comedian, actor and presenter, renowned for his sharp wit and distinctive stage persona. He celebrated 10 years of starring in The London Palladium Panto in 2025. He returns to the role of King Herod having starred in the 2023-2024 UK tour of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Director Tim Sheader said: “All different but all fabulous, we are thrilled that these six artists will take a turn demanding Jesus walk across their swimming pool as the infamously camp but lethal King Herod. Choose to see any one of them and we promise, for a golden moment, they will stop this juggernaut of a show in its glitter filled tracks.”
Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic global phenomenon is directed by Sheader, with choreography by Olivier Award-winner Drew McOnie, and design by Tony and Olivier Award-winner Tom Scutt, reuniting the creative team of the 2016 production 10 years on to create a unique staging of their Olivier award-winning, worldwide smash-hit production.
The creative team is joined by musical supervisor Tom Deering, lighting designer Lee Curran, sound designer Adam Fisher, fight director Kate Waters, and BAFTA Award Winning casting director David Grindrod CDG for Grindrod Burton Casting.
