A NEW production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar comes to Oxford this month.

The show will be at the New Theatre from Monday, September 28, to Saturday, October 3.

Glenn Carter returns as Jesus, a role he played in the West End, on Broadway and in a movie.

His musical theatre credits include leading roles in Whistle Down the Wind, Les Misérables, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Godspell and Merrily We Roll Along.

Also starring is Australian actor Tim Rogers, as Judas, and X Factor finalist Rachel Adedeji as Mary Magdalene.

The show hit the musicals scene in 1971 and tells the story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus through the eyes of Judas Iscariot.

It features legendary songs like I Don’t Know How to Love Him, Everything’s Alright, Gethsemane and Superstar.

Talking to the Bicester Advertiser, Glenn said he first played the role on stage in 1996/97, followed by a movie version and then again on stage in 2004.

Glenn said: “Our Jesus Christ Superstar is about the relationship between three people and the backdrop is the last seven days of Christ. It’s the relationship between an ideal, which is Christ, and the ideal possibly being side-tracked or usurped. That’s my take on Jesus Christ Superstar.”

Despite playing the role for the fourth time, it does not mean less rehearsal time.

“I’ve got directors’ notes of four productions in my head, so I need to be very clear which one I’m doing,” said Glenn.

Asked what appealed to him about playing Jesus Christ, Glenn said it was being able to perform the song Gethsemane.

He said: “I don’t think many actors ever get the opportunity to sing a song like Gethsemane. And to do it in anger, in front of an audience with a band, in the dramatic setting that it’s in, the Last Supper, Gethsemane is one of the most challenging but also thrilling things to do.”

Tickets are available from the New Theatre, George Street, on 0844 871 3020 or via atgtickets.com/oxford