Jesus Christ Superstar
We were thrilled that this production of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ was awarded the coveted Minack Trophy for the most outstanding production of the 2010 season.
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Previews in the Open-Air on the tennis courts of ‘The Larks’, Oxted.
Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd May 2010
Minack Theatre on the cliffs at Porthcurno.
Monday 31st May to Friday 4th June 2010
Jesus Christ Superstar the story of the final six days in the life of Jesus Christ told through the troubled eyes of Judas Iscariot.
This iconic rock opera pulses with energy and contains some of the most well known musical numbers from the last 40 years – ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’, ‘Heaven on their Minds’, ‘Hosanna’, ‘Gethsemane’ and of course ‘Superstar’.
Our production coincided with the 40th anniversary of the original concept album and was the first time that this show had been presented at the Minack Theatre.
Jesus Chris Superstar was produced by Richard Allen and Neil Reynolds joined us for the first time as Director. We once again welcomed Ian Skipper as Musical Director and Fran Reynolds as Choreographer.
As with all previous Minack tours, the technical team was headed up by Bruce Reed (Technical Director) and our Stage Manager was Malcolm Le Croissette, with Jill ‘Wigs’ Wilson as Production & Set Designer.
This production featured a cast of 50 performers and around 120 people joined us on tour in Cornwall.
Photos
Videos
Credits
Producer: Richard Allen
Director: Neil Reynolds
Musical Director: Ian Skipper
Choreographer: Fran Reynolds
Production Assistant: Elizabeth Skinner
Technical Director: Bruce Reed
Stage Manager: Malcolm Le Croissette
Assistant Stage Manager: Phil Littleford
Production & Set Designer: Jill 'Wigs' Wilson
Wardrobe Mistress: Tricia Whyte
Lighting Designer: Carolyn Rowley
Sound Technician: James McLeod
Props Supervisors: John & Sheila Bennett
Hair & Makeup: Neila Dawes & Sharon Dawes
Jesus Christ: Stuart Matthew Price
Judas Iscariot: Sean Kingsley
Mary Magdalene: Helen Bartlett
Pontius Pilate: Steve Green
Herod: Paul Longhurst
Caiaphas: Robert Hamilton
Annas: Dave Lugg
Simon: Matt Brinkler
Peter: Richard Allen
Andrew: Nigel Brown
Bartholomew: Michael Carolan
James the Greater: Mark Mear
James the Lesser: Steve Bedford
John: Stuart Norris
Matthew: Kevin Wood
Philip: James Brown
Thadeus: David Young
Thomas: Joel Baylis
Priest / Guard: Jonathan Tull
Priest Guard: Colin McGuiness
Priest / Guard: John Hulme
Dancers: Marissa Beatty - Debbie Brown - Cat Longhurst - Corin Miller - Catherine Osborne - Rowan Smith - Krystyna Szafranski - Vicky Terry - Alice Wright - Katherine Callow
Ensemble: Helen Bryer - Annie Bullen - Chris Chaplin - Hilary Colegrave - Jackie Driscoll - Stephanie Hornett - Lara Humphrey - Nanna Krebs - Ivette Marriott - India Martin - Flo O'Mahony - Amelia Simmons - Elizabeth Skinner - Teresa Skinner - Fiona Steel - Carly Thompson - Mark Wakeford - Dena Watts - Philippa Whelan - Rosalind Wright
Conductor: Ian Skipper
Keyboard 1: Scott Alder
Keyboard 2: James Cleeve
Keyboard 3: Michael Grant
Electric Guitar 1: Clive Furness
Electric Guitar 2: Bob Ward
Trumpet: Graham Wright
Reeds: Nick Charles
Horn: Chris Beagles
Bass Guitar: Vicki Hunt
Drums: Dave Hunt
Percussion: Richard Souper
Frank Ruhrmund - The Cornishman - June 2010:
A miracle would have been welcome at the Minack on Monday but, although we were in the presence of the great miracle worker himself, Jesus Christ Superstar, and perhaps because, after all, it was a bank holiday it was not to be.
However, although it rained from start to finish, it failed to prevent either the Surrey-based Barnstormers from coming up with a superb version of this Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice rock opera, or the majority of their huge audience from staying and enjoying its every gripping moment.
When first performed in New York, in praising it one of the city's critics reckoned it would be around for a long time to come. That was all of 40 years ago and it is still going strong.
Directed by Neil Reynolds and played in modern dress which, with its men in suits and shades, its guards with their riot shields, and a populace ready to shout "Hosanna" as well as and, almost in the same breath, "Crucify him", adds to its relevance.
Choreographed by Fran Newitt with musical direction by Ian Skipper, the patterns of movement are as varied as they are vibrant, the band is splendid, and the ensemble playing as disciplined as it is dedicated.
A word, too, for production designer Jill "Wigs" Wilson and technical director Bruce Reed, for everyone, in fact, who help make this production such an unforgettable experience. While its set pieces, The Last Supper to King Herod's Song, the suicide of Judas Iscariot to the Crucifixion, are supremely well staged, at the same time and, as it were, despite its rock 'n' rolling, foot stomping and swinging background, and the fact that its storyline is so well known, it is ultimately very moving.
While the sincerity of the large cast, whether apostles, dancers, soul girls, palm wavers or leading characters is as striking as the courage they displayed when singing and dancing in the rain on their opening night, there are particularly excellent performances from Helen Bartlett as the caring Mary "I Don't Know How To Love Him" Magdalene: Paul Longhurst who makes the very most of one of the show's top numbers "King Herod's Song": Sean Kingsley as the troubled Judas Iscariot who has more than heaven and pieces of silver on his mind; and Stuart Matthew Price who in the difficult role of the doomed Jesus Christ is, indeed and in every sense, a Superstar.
