Jade Ewen cast in the nationwide tour of Godspell in Concert 2015 UK Tour

First casting announced for Godspell in Concert 2015 UK Tour

First casting has been announced for the upcoming UK Tour of Godspell in Concert.

X Factor's Andy Abraham returns to the production as Judas/John following last year's West End gala. The cast also includes Jade Ewen (Sugababes) and Leanne Jarvis (The Voice). Tom Senior(pictured right), who is currently appearing in the West End production of Jersey Boys, will play Jesus. Kenneth Avery Clarkdirects with musical direction from Russell Scott.

Godspell in Concert opens at the Hackney Empire on 4th and 5th April 2015. The tour then plays: Guildford, Southampton, Llandudno, Cardiff, Swansea, Reading, Brighton, Southsea, Gateshead, Sunderland, Torquay, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Ipswich, Manchester, Darlington, Grimsby, Dartford, Birmingham, Oxford, Hastings, Hull, Bradford, Glasgow, Woking, Watford, Blackpool, Wycombe and Northampton.

Exclusive: Andy Abraham and Jade Ewen star in Godspell tour

The production, which follows last year's West End gala, opens at Hackney Empire in April

By Theo Bosanquet • 15 Jan 2015 • Nationwide

Andy Abraham and Jade Ewen

Former X Factor runner up Andy Abraham will return to the cast of Godspell in Concert later this year for the show's UK tour.

The tour, which follows the show's one-off West End gala last year, opens at Hackney Empire in April.

Abraham, who plays Judas/John the Baptist, will be joined in the cast by former Sugababe Jade Ewen, whose previous stage credits include Rod Stewart musical Tonight's The Night and Porgy and Bess at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. She represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009, singingAndrew Lloyd Webber's "It's My Time".

They're joined in the principal cast by Leanne Jarvis (The Voice) and Tom Senior (Jersey Boys) as Jesus.

Kenneth Avery-Clark will once again direct the production, with Russell Scott as musical director.

Scott said of the tour: "Since the West End gala, we have worked tirelessly to bring Godspell back to the UK and on tour for the first time in almost ten years in our new semi-staged concert format."

A modern-day song-and-dance recreation of St Matthew's gospel, Godspell begins with John the Baptist gathering up followers and concludes with Jesus' crucifixion in a junkyard. Written by Stephen Schwartz(Wicked, Pippin), it features a book by John-Michael Tebelak.

Godspell in Concert opens at Hackney Empire on 4 and 5 April 2015, before visiting venues in Guildford, Southampton, Llandudno, Cardiff, Swansea, Reading, Brighton, Southsea, Gateshead, Sunderland, Torquay, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Ipswich, Manchester, Darlington, Grimsby, Dartford, Birmingham, Oxford, Hastings, Hull, Bradford, Glasgow, Woking, Watford, Blackpool, Wycombe and Northampton.