Jesus Christ Superstar is the second mainstream collaboration between venerated musical theatre masterminds Sirs Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Born of the 1970s, an era when rock music was finding its way out of small clubs and pubs and starting to fill arenas with bombastic, hair-raising glamour, the production tells the story of the last few weeks of Jesus’ life and crucifixion through the grandiose medium of rock opera.
Australia has a long history of staging Jesus Christ Superstar, premiering here in 1972 only a year after its West End debut. In 2013, a notable touring version of the musical starred our own Tim Minchin as Judas and Mel C of the Spice Girls as Mary.
This version of the production, directed by Timothy Sheader, began at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in London in 2016 and toured the UK and US before landing in Australia. Sheader’s vision brings a raw, youthful energy to the iconic musical, equating the influence of Jesus and the politicians of the time to that of rock stars.
The production has a metal influence – not just musically, but in materiality. The set, designed by Tom Scutt, is industrially inspired and feels like an arena concert inside of an old steel factory. Lofty scaffolds made of rusty metal I-beams house some of the orchestra musicians, who remain visible throughout the performance to keep the rock and roll vibes ever-present.
The rear of wall of the stage features a negative cut-out of the cross shape, containing a glimpse of a tree canopy that nods to the original open-air setting of Sheader’s interpretation of the production in Regent’s Park. At the base of this, a giant cross-shaped gangway functions as a mini stage within the stage, with priests, politicians and guards often entering from this elevated position.
The metallic materiality continues in some of the prop choices. When Jesus is whipped, he is assaulted with showers of gold glitter, and when Judas makes his deal with Caiaphas, his hands are coated in silver liquid, literally dripping in blood money. The theme extends to the costumes, where shiny materials like gold, silver and black leather feature prominently for characters in positions of power, against soft cotton and linen in neutral tones donned by commoners and the working class.
The cast is stacked with breathtaking vocal talent. Robert Tripolino is Perth’s superstar Jesus, who first appears on stage in a grey hoodie and baseball cap with an acoustic guitar slung casually over his shoulder, reminding us that he is just a humble man. He delivers the role of Jesus like the frontman of an indie-alternative band, a little bit unconventional in a passionate and authentic way.
As Judas, Javon King pulls out all stops to make sure every syllable is drawn deeply from the soul, underscoring Judas’ internal conflict and frustration with explosive energy. He leaves nothing in the tank as he deftly hits soaring vocal runs time and time again.
Mahalia Barnes ignites the role of Mary Magdalene with her soulful prowess and emotionally-charged warmth.
Melbourne-based comedian and singer Ruben Kaye was made for the role of King Herod, delivering the elaborate pageantry of the role with ease. His larger-than-life presence commands the stage from the moment he appears dripping in sumptuous golden heraldry.
The choreography for the ensemble, by Drew McOnie, is often frenetic and jarring, aptly capturing the inhuman aggression and mania within the crowds as they call for Jesus’ crucifixion.
Jesus Christ Superstar dazzles audiences with explosively energetic vocal mastery and raw energy. It is a visually stunning production that brings the iconic rock opera to life in an electrifying way. Don’t miss your chance to catch this limited Perth season before it moves on to Melbourne and Brisbane.
Jesus Christ Superstar runs in Perth for a strictly limited season until 8 March at Crown Perth.
It then transfers to Melbourne from 16 March and Brisbane from 29 June 2025.
Tickets: https://jesuschristsuperstarmusical.com.au/tickets/perth/
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