The Jesus Christ Superstar tour has set a rotating King Herod schedule for Theatre Royal Drury Lane, with Matt Bomer first on from 16-31 October. The West End transfer runs from 16 October to 9 January 2027, and one January slot is still to be announced.
Matt Bomer opens the run
Matt Bomer is the first named King Herod performer in the line-up, with dates from 16-31 October. Rob Brydon follows from 2-7 November, then Reece Shearsmith from 9-14 November, Bob The Drag Queen from 16-21 November, Michael Ball from 23 November-5 December, Simon Russell Beale from 7-12 December, Omid Djalili from 14-19 December, and Layton Williams from 21 December 2026 to 2 January 2027.
That spread turns one supporting role into a timed relay across more than two months. It also gives ticket buyers a clear map of which performer they will see, instead of leaving Herod to a single understudy-style designation.
Theatre Royal Drury Lane dates
The production begins at Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 16 October after its London Palladium run from 20 June to 5 September. The move follows record-breaking demand for the summer season at The London Palladium, and the new dates stretch the engagement through 9 January 2027.
Layton Williams adds a useful bridge in the casting plan. He will first play Herod at the London Palladium in August before returning for the Theatre Royal Drury Lane run from 21 December 2026 to 2 January 2027, which ties the venue switch together cleanly for anyone tracking the role across both houses.
One January slot remains
The production has announced eight named King Herod performers, but one final king for January is still to be announced. Sam Ryder remains attached as Jesus, while Tim Sheader directs, Drew McOnie handles choreography and Tom Scutt designs the production.
Tickets for Jesus Christ Superstar - Theatre Royal Drury Lane start at £35, with an Ages 10+ recommendation. For anyone planning a visit around a specific performer, the practical move is simple: match the date to the King Herod slot before booking, because the role changes several times before the run closes on 9 January 2027.
