Not being a fan of Biblical musicals, I went to last night's performance of Jesus Christ Superstar bracing myself for a cast of youths rocking out to dated songs in something resembling a school play.

I came out buzzing, wishing I had the soundtrack to play in the car.

This is a stunning, soul-stirring production that was moving and highly entertaining.

Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera score, featuring numbers like Hosanna, What's The Buzz?, I Don't Know How To Love Him and Superstar, stands up well and an excellent cast did it proud.

Recent productions have featured the cast in combat pants and trainers, but this version has the traditional look of robes and beards, adding atmosphere and authenticity.

And I have to say, it's quite a treat for the ladies. That Biblical look of shaggy hair and stubble makes for some very cute apostles, although Jesus's hair extensions didn't really work.

What made the show striking was its simplicity, leaving the real power for the music. The set was all towering columns and staircases with a huge cross of thorns hanging above the stage. Figures emerged like shadows from the darkness.

There was a brief but memorable moment in the last supper when the action was halted for a split-second, evoking the familiar poses in De Vinci's famous painting.

There was light relief, of sorts, when a grotesque Herod strutted around the stage - but nervous laughter from the auditorium was soon drowned by silence as Christ lay broken before him.

The Crucifixion was kept brutal but simple, but this production - which has a timely run in Bradford leading towards Easter - managed an uplifting ending.

An excellent cast included Jon Boydon, who brought pathos to Judas, Craig Price, giving a beautiful performance as Jesus, Tim Churchill as Pontius Pilate and Helen Catherine-Ball as Mary Magdalene.

Forget any notions of happy-clappy rock songs. This is powerful stuff, performed by some of the country's best musical theatre actors.

Runs until March 26