Non-binary Jesus Christ is a new sort of superstar
Roza Stevenson, centre, will play Jesus in the Edinburgh University adaptation
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/7132ffc8-9b5e-11ed-8201-2ed91f44d1e8
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A landmark musical has been resurrected for the 21st century, with a non-binary actor taking the role of Jesus and Judas Iscariot being played by a woman.
Jesus Christ Superstar has been prompting controversy and filling theatres since it was written by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Tim Rice more than half a century ago.
Now students from the Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group will launch the world’s first gender-neutral production of the rock opera today.
In the adaptation, which has been approved and licensed by Lloyd Webber, Roza Stevenson — who uses the pronouns they/them — will play Jesus, while the 12 apostles will be portrayed by female or non-binary performers.
Lew Forman, the creative producer, said the production had adopted “gender-blind casting” to reinvent the story of Jesus’s final days for a modern audience. “Jesus is remembered as being a man, but who are we to decide?” he said. “None of us were around 2,000 years ago. It’s the same story and songs but the audience will view it from a different perspective.”
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Lloyd Webber Licensing granted permission for the production but insisted that the lyrics and pronouns must not be changed. It means that Mary Magdalene, played by Sofia Pricolo, will sing I Don’t Know How to Love Him, about Jesus, rather than I Don’t Know How to Love Them.
Forman said their “equal opportunity” production had led to debate as well as acts of vandalism. “People have said to us ‘Oh, Jesus is not a man’,” he said. “It has definitely been a bit controversial. A number of our posters have been vandalised.”
The production is not allowed to change the pronouns in the musical’s lyrics
However, Forman said he was unaware of any objections raised by Christians or religious organisations. “Jesus Christ Superstar was never particularly beloved by the Christian community,” he said. “It doesn’t end with the resurrection. It ends with Jesus being on the cross. It is neutral and ambiguous.”
Stevenson was delighted to be able to audition and gain the lead role, which has always previously been played by male actors. “The group has taken a well-known story and made it something new and special,” said Stevenson. “Being a non-binary actor is a strange line to walk. Being able to audition for a show where my gender presentation didn’t make a difference broke down any barriers.”
The radical production is being staged at a theatre that previously housed Morningside Free Church, whose staunchly Presbyterian worshippers would have been unlikely to look favourably upon it.
Emily Paterson, the musical director, said she had taken inspiration from previous versions of the production but insisted they had created something fresh. “What makes this production unique is our gender-neutral casting,” she said. “Taking away the boundaries of gendered roles allowed us to find a dynamic and captivating cast.
“In particular, having a completely non-male cast of apostles I have found to be very moving, allowing this iconic story to be told in a new and refreshing way.”
Forman added: “It’s not that I don’t think we could have found men to play these fantastic roles. I’m confident that we could have done. It was more about the idea of equal opportunity.”
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Jesus Christ Superstar will run at Church Hill Theatre, Edinburgh, from Tuesday until Saturday.
From ‘worst idea in history’ to rave review from the Pope
When Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice first approached producers with their concept of a rock opera based on the final days of Jesus Christ, they were roundly mocked.
One prospective investor went as far as to inform them it was the “worst idea in history”.
Undeterred by a lack of funding, they released Jesus Christ Superstar as a concept album in October 1970 which featured Ian Gillan, singer with the heavy rock band Deep Purple, in the main role.
It went on to become the bestselling album of 1971 in the US, beating Carole King’s Tapestry, Sticky Fingers by the Rolling Stones and George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass.
It was originally banned by the BBC for being “sacrilegious” but the record’s success spawned hugely popular runs in London’s West End and Broadway in New York.
In 1973 a Hollywood film of the musical, starring Ted Neeley, was released to rave reviews from Pope Paul VI, who said: “I believe it will bring more people around the world to Christianity, than anything ever has before.”
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In 2012 a revamped version of the show toured arenas through the UK and starred the former Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm as Mary Magdalene, Tim Minchin, the comedian and composer, as Judas and the DJ Chris Moyles as King Herod.
A production starring an all-black cast was staged in Illinois in 2017.
