My Mind Is Clearer Now

Today the next year's season at the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park was announced as including a new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Jesus Christ Superstar. As it happens, JCS was the first West End production I ever saw, thanks to a church outing of 42 years ago - give or take a couple of years. The musical became one of my favourites and remains so to this day, despite arena productions and celebrity castings.

I remember catching up with the video of the Lyceum production starring an excellent Glenn Carter as Jesus some time ago and not really liking it. Aside from some of the vocal performances, I felt the filming of the show didn't do justice to the power of Lloyd Webber's unashamedly rock sensitive score.

Hopefully with Tim Sheader directing and the marvellous Drew McOnie choreographing in that fabulous open air venue, the production will live again - without the need for filling vast arenas, stunt casting or a television series to create interest.