Tim Minchin...must you betray me with a kiss?

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 5/6/12 at 4:45am

As an outspoken atheist, Tim Minchin, the Australian musician and comedian, may bewilder radio listeners today by choosing a biblical figure as one of his greatest inspirations.

But there is a reason. It can be revealed that Minchin will play the disciple Judas in a major revival of the rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar.

He will join the pop singer Nicole Scherzinger, playing Mary Magdalene, in an arena tour of the musical by Lord Lloyd Webber and Sir Tim Rice which will open at London’s O2 arena this summer.

The character of Jesus will be cast via a television talent competition next month, where contestants will compete for the lead role in the musical telling the story of Christ’s final week.

The television show has been criticised by Sir Tim, who wrote the musical’s lyrics and has described plans to ask a panel of celebrity judges and public voters to pick the “next Jesus” as “tasteless” and “tacky”.



Minchin may make an unconventional Judas with his long blonde hair and trademark kohl eyeliner.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, Minchin selected Heaven on their Minds, a song from the musical, as one of his tracks and hinted at his desire to play Judas.

He said: “I reckon I sang this song standing in my parents’ living room, to the vinyl original recording, about 500 times, and subsequently got to understudy the role of Judas in two separate Perth productions of JC Superstar but I never played the role and I keep thinking one day I’m going to play Judas. I just love it because it is just pain and rock.”

The musical, which Sir Tim and Lord Lloyd Webber wrote in 1969, features Mary Magdalene expressing her desire for Jesus.
In another scene, Jesus is shown being whipped by Roman soldiers and the musical ends with Judas committing suicide after his betrayal of Jesus and Christ’s crucifixion.

Sir Tim said that the musical’s religious and political themes could become a source of ridicule in a television talent show, with the judges telling hopeful contestants: “You could be Jesus.”

Minchin, who will appear at the Telegraph Hay Festival next month, may make an unconventional Judas with his long blonde hair and trademark kohl eyeliner.

His musical talent was hailed last month when his production of Matilda the Musical, the adaptation of Roald Dahl’s book for which he wrote the music and lyrics, won a record seven Olivier awards.

Minchin’s desert island discs included Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks and I’m Alone by Deep Purple. His chosen book was Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut.

(By Roya Nikkhah, Arts Correspondent: 2012http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/9248124/Atheist-comedian-Tim-Minchin-to-play-Judas-in-Jesus-Christ-Superstar.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter)
Updated On: 5/6/12 at 04:45 AM

[Princeton Returns]

Posted: 5/6/12 at 6:00am

This sounds awful. Will not be going

[AddisonMizner]

Posted: 5/6/12 at 7:18am

Can't imagine Minchin in this role AT ALL! Does he have the voice to be able to pull this off? I know he can sing as I've heard him do various comedy songs on TV shows etc but doing those and singing Judas are two completely different things! I love "Superstar". I think it's a great show and certainly one of Lloyd Webber's best but I am in two-minds as whether to see this arena tour or not.

I know that there was talk a while go of the revival that's currently playing on Broadway coming over. Has anyone heard anymore about that? If so, I may wait and see that production instead!

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 5/6/12 at 11:51am

Minchin has been in the show twice before...