Jesus Christ Superstar has been reimagined for the 21st century. Students from the Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group will launch the world’s first gender-neutral production of the rock opera today.
Jesus will be played by a non-binary actor while Judas Iscariot and the twelve apostles will be portrayed by actresses or non-binary’s.
According to The Times:
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.”
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.”
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.”
