Rock opera on Jesus in immersive setting

AN immersive production of Sir Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, directed by Paul Hart, is garnering rave reviews.

Now on at the Watermill Theatre in Bagnor, near Newbury, there is a cast of actor-musicians, with Michael Kholwadia playing Jesus.

Michael, 26, says: “These guys in the cast, they’re on a whole different level. Most of them are playing more than one instrument throughout the show, so it’s a real showcase for them and it’s really impressive.

“I do get the opportunity to sit back and watch, because I’m not in the Overture, which is all just pure music, there’s no vocals and no story as of yet.

“It acts as an introduction to each of the musicians and there’s different little motifs in the Overture, which allow different instruments to shine.

“We’ve got a great variety of instruments, lots of guitars in this one and of course bass, drum kit and a few horns as well. Actually we’ve got two trombones which are really prominent in the show and a trumpet, played by Alex.”

In the musical, the story of Jesus is told from the vantage point of Judas Iscariot.

It looks at the relationships and struggles between Jesus, Judas, Mary Magdalene, Jesus’s disciples and followers and the leaders of the Roman Empire.

Michael is joined by Parisa Shahmir as Mary Magdalene, Max Alexander-Taylor as Judas and Christian Edwards as Pilate.

Michali Dantes is Simon, Seb Harwood is Peter, Samuel Morgan-Grahame is Herod, Olugbenga Adelekan is Caiaphas and Alexander Zane is Annas.

“It’s a lot to live up to,” continues Michael, “and everyone has an idea of who they think Jesus is.

“Nobody really knows what he was actually like and because we’re doing our own slightly modernised version of the events, I’ve tried my best to just imagine how I would be in his situation, how I would feel, how I would behave.

“It is very exciting but it is exhausting, especially the second act, it really ramps up in intensity as Jesus, the exhaustion and the torment. For the whole crucifixion scene, I feel like I have to really go for it. After I’ve finished the show there’s an adrenaline and a sort of mental and physical state that I’m in from having done the final act.”

The musical started out as a concept album, released in 1970, before becoming a Broadway show the following year and coming to the West End in 1972. In 1973, a film adaptation was made.

Songs in the piece include Gethsemane, I Don’t know How to Love Him and Superstar.

“My favourite song is Superstar, I think,” says Michael.

“I remember people used to sing it in the playground when I was a kid before I knew what the show was and I think everybody knows how the tune goes, everyone’s mum knows how the tune goes.

“But, when you actually see it in the context of the show, it takes on a whole new meaning, you go oh, when you see it in the context of the show you’re like oh, that’s what it means, it’s actually really clever, the way the song turns up in the story.

“I feel like there’s a lot of versions of this show.

“So, when this was announced and the casting came out I was like ‘Oh, I wonder how they’re going to make this one different and how they’re going to make this one worthwhile’.

“But the location and the fact that it’s actor-musicianship adds such a uniqueness to this production and the intimate setting in the theatre is fantastic.

“It’s very small but it really works, you’re very close to the action.

“The outdoor section really works as well and I think the way that the team have cast this, they’ve really made sense of why each actor is playing the instrument that they’re playing.

“Like Christian, who plays Pilate, the Roman official, he plays the trombone and it feels like it makes a great deal of sense, like of course you’d play the trombone, just like the fanfare, it sounds really military.

“Benga, who plays Caiaphas, he’s got this really great deep voice and he plays bass guitar which matches along with it, it feels like everything just really makes sense.

“I’m having a great time. It’s probably been my favourite job that I’ve done so far.”

l Jesus Christ Superstar is at the Watermill in Bagnor, near Newbury, until Sunday, September 21. For more information, call 01635 46044 or visit www.watermill.org.uk