HE'S added a cheeky edge of campness to the hit musical Jesus Christ Superstar, playing a half-naked King Herod. Actor Martin Callaghan took some time off from playing the infamous biblical king at The Mayflower to talk to What's On's Noel Davies...

WHEN Martin Callaghan auditioned for the role of King Herod in Jesus Chris Superstar, the last thing he could have imagined was being made to dress up in a rather revealing, multi-coloured robe and matching loincloth.

"It was thrust up on me," blush's Martin, who also has to endure wearing a rather unflattering dash of red lipstick.

"It's hard not to smile! To come on stage half-naked is a totally unique experience indeed. It's like being at the swimming baths where everyone is conscience of what they look like, only I'm the only one wearing trunks!"

In a scene more akin to something out of Moulin Rouge with an added pinch of Graham Norton for extra spice, Martin serenades the condemned Son of God with a jazz dance that has left audiences in stitches.

"The idea was to set Herod in a Turkish bath," explains Martin. "I never thought 'I can't do this'. It's a challenge and you have to give it a go.

"It's a point in the show where everyone needs a bit of light relief because, visually, it's pretty heavy stuff. After the Herod scene you see Jesus' crucifixion, while throughout you are subjected to his pain and anguish. I feel the Herod scene serves a great purpose by adding a small touch of harmless humour.

"The audience always acts in different ways and it's interesting to see how different each venue is. Southampton has been great. I have performed here quite a few times before and the shows have always been good.

"The last time would have been Chicago in 2002, where I played Amos. That was a very different part to the one I'm playing now. With this one it is very strange. Yes, he is very funny, but afterwards people soon dislike him because he turns on Jesus. I had complaints from people because they didn't like seeing Jesus vilified," he revealed.

Jesus Christ Superstar has already proven a huge hit at The Mayflower with audiences pouring through the theatre's doors to see the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical. Martin, from Manchester, puts that down to the plays broad appeal.

"No matter whether you are religious or not, Jesus Christ Superstar is still a story of pain, which anyone can relate to. One of the good things Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice have achieved with the musical is ask the question is Jesus something more powerful or just a human being, and if he is a human surely everyone can relate to his pain? It never loses its emotion, even when you are performing it night after night," assures Martin.

Jesus Christ Superstar runs at The Mayflower until Saturday. After that Martin hopes to perform in the West End again.

"I have my hopes and wishes," he smiles. "There are a couple of things I would like to do. Chicago is coming back to London and I'd love to be a part of that. A play called Hairspray is also being brought from Broadway to London. I'm hoping my role as Herod stands me in good stead for a part in that!"

Jesus Christ Superstar. Tickets from £17.50. Box office: 023 8071 1811.