A spaceman will play a starring role as Woking Theatre will host a show of biblical proportions next summer, writes Sam Rees.

There’s a stage debut for Sam Ryder with the Eurovision favourite landing the title role in the July 2027 production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Ryder’s casting in the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice classic has already generated significant interest.

It is a notable departure for an artist who built his following through recorded music and viral performances, rather than the rigours of live theatre.

The rock opera follows the final days of Jesus's life, told through the eyes of Judas, and features a score that has lost none of its power since its debut.

Classics like I Don't Know How to Love Him, Gethsemane and the title number Superstar remain among musical theatre's most instantly recognisable songs, blending rock instrumentation with a story audiences have known for two thousand years.

The production carries considerable pedigree. Originally released as a concept album, Jesus Christ Superstar opened on Broadway in 1971, earning five Tony nominations including Best Original Score.

The original London production went on to run for more than eight years and 3,358 performances, becoming, at the time, the longest-running musical in West End history, a record that stood for years afterwards.

This new staging reunites the creative team behind the acclaimed 2016 production: director Tim Sheader, Olivier Award-winning choreographer Drew McOnie, and Tony and Olivier Award-winning designer Tom Scutt.

Following sold-out runs at The London Palladium and Theatre Royal Drury Lane, the production is coming to Woking during a 21-date UK tour which includes stops in Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and other major cities.

Producer Michael Harrison said the response to the show's Palladium opening had confirmed the case for a national tour.

He said: “The tremendous buzz generated by Saturday night's first performance underlines just how special this iconic musical remains.

“We are thrilled that audiences across the country will now have the opportunity to experience Tim Sheader's visionary staging, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's legendary score, and Sam Ryder's electrifying performance."

It continues a strong run of form for Lloyd Webber Harrison musicals, whose recent and upcoming work includes Evita's transfer to Broadway, the award-winning revival of Sunset Blvd, the newly announced world tour of Starlight Express, and a new production of Cats opening at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre this summer ahead of its own UK tour.

For Woking audiences, the five-night run offers a rare opportunity to see one of musical theatre's most powerful scores performed locally, with a leading man whose career has, until now, been confined to the recording studio and the concert stage.

Whether Ryder can turn Woking Theatre into a den of rock 'n' roll worship remains to be seen, but with demand for the London run already high, few tickets are likely to remain unsold for long.