Ben Forster, star of the new touring production  of Jesus Christ Superstar, has claimed that the show could herald a “new generation” of arena musicals.

Speaking to The Stage as the arena tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical begins touring the country, Forster said more musicals could be presented in similar venues if the show proves a success.

“I think it [Jesus Christ Superstar] works beautifully and could be the start of a whole new generation of reinventing musicals for those spaces, because it’s such an amazing theatrical experience.

“For whoever comes and sees it, it will be like nothing they have seen before,” he said. “So many musicals would work in the arena. Starlight Express would work, Miss Saigon would work.”

The performer, selected for Jesus Christ Superstar through ITV’s casting series Superstar, said there were no plans to bring the production into the West End, adding:  “I don’t think it’s been reinvented for theatres. It’s been reinvented for  an arena stage, to be  a big production.”