Glenn Close to close Jesus Christ Superstar London run as King Herod
Glenn Close will play King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar from 4 to 9 January, closing the London run at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
The dates cover the final week of the production. The run plays from 16 October 2026 to 9 January 2027, according to producers via WhatsOnStage. Sam Ryder stars as Jesus.
The Drury Lane season is a transfer, meaning the production moves from its original venue into a commercial West End house. It follows a sold-out summer season at The London Palladium. The staging is the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre production.
Herod changes hands almost weekly. Matt Bomer plays the role from 16 to 31 October. Rob Brydon follows from 2 to 7 November.
Reece Shearsmith takes over from 9 to 14 November, then Bob The Drag Queen from 16 to 21 November. Michael Ball plays Herod from 23 November to 5 December. Simon Russell Beale follows from 7 to 12 December, Omid Djalili from 14 to 19 December, and Layton Williams from 21 December to 2 January. Close completes the rotation.
Elsewhere in the company, Tyrone Huntley plays Judas for six performances a week, with Matty J as alternate Judas on Thursdays. Desmonda Cathabel plays Mary Magdalene and David Thaxton plays Pontius Pilate.
For fans, this means a very different Herod depending on the week booked. The part is short but showy. It lands in the middle of the story's trial scenes.
The production also offers more than 7,000 onstage standing tickets priced at £25, putting part of the audience on the Drury Lane stage during the show, as reported by The Stage. Producers have separately confirmed a UK tour from February 2027 after London. Sam Ryder's recording of 'Gethsemane' is also due for release, according to BroadwayWorld.
