10 September 2012
The Bishop of Manchester has invited the actor who will play
Jesus, in the arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, to a special
welcome at Manchester Cathedral. On 30th September 2012 the hit
show rolls into Manchester - the same day as national Back to Church
Sunday.
The Bishop said: "Back to Church Sunday is all about the church
offering a welcome to today's culture and that is what we hope to
do - both at church and in the MEN Arena, for what should be a
fantastic performance of the musical. Having Jesus, the disciples
and Mary Magdalene arriving in Manchester on that day was too good
an opportunity to miss. They are all welcome - even Herod, Judas
and Pilate."
The Bishop has written to the producers of the show, offering to
give cast and crew members a personal welcome at Manchester
Cathedral. The cathedral is used to welcoming rock stars and has
recently hosted concerts by Elbow and Noah and the Whale.
Back to Church Sunday is supported by thousands of churches
across the UK as an opportunity to invite people to come back to
church. Back to Church Sunday was born and bred as a big
Manchester idea in 2004; since then it has spread nationally -
almost a quarter of a million people (230,000) have come back to
try church again, and the idea has gone global.
In the arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar Jesus will be played
by viewers' winner Ben Forster, Judas will be played by the
satirical and vocal atheist Tim Minchin, Herod by Radio One DJ
Chris Moyles and Mary Magdalene by former Spice Girl Mel C.