“Jesus Christ Superstar” reveals the eight autumn Herods at Drury Lane: Matt Bomer, Michael Ball and Bob The Drag Queen in rotation

Eight stars of stage and screen will share the role of King Herod during the autumn in the production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane, as WhatsOnStage announces. The list, announced today, opens with the American actor Matt Bomer (October 16–31) and closes with Layton Williams (December 21–January 2, 2027), while a ninth Herod, for the final week of performances, will be revealed later.

Among the names announced are the comedian Rob Brydon (November 2–7), Reece Shearsmith (November 9–14), the drag star Bob The Drag Queen (November 16–21), the West End legend Michael Ball (November 23–December 5), Simon Russell Beale (December 7–12, with a rescheduled date) and Omid Djalili (December 14–19). According to WhatsOnStage, Williams returns to this role after playing it for two weeks at the London Palladium in August.

Sam Ryder will continue as Jesus in the second part of Tim Sheader’s 2026 production, alongside Desmonda Cathabel as Mary Magdalene, David Thaxton as Pontius Pilate, Bob Harms as Caiaphas, Matty J as Annas and Phil King as Peter. For the singer, who is preparing for his professional theatre debut, Ryder has previously said that he is undergoing a “West End crash course”: “Whenever I have a free evening, I go to see something.”

The autumn transfer to Drury Lane lasts 12 weeks from October and promises one of the most star-studded casts of the London season, with the Herod rotation as the main attraction.