The legendary musical extravaganza that is The Rocky Horror Show is touring to Bath’s Theatre Royal this week to packed houses.
Well, I can tell you that it’s as fresh as it ever was and has lost none of its enduring appeal to theatre-goers old and young.
This touring production sees Aussie singing superstar Jason Donovan and highly-popular comedian Nathan Caton leading the cast as they celebrate its 51st anniversary with sell-out shows across the UK.
It’s still hard to believe that young out of work actor Richard O’Brien wrote the show in the early 1970s to keep himself busy on long winter evenings.
The show premiered in London in June 1973 and has become a legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical paying humorous tribute to various B-movies associated with the science fiction and horror genres from the 1930s to the early 1960s.
It continues to captivate audiences around the world, featuring all the beloved songs, outrageous characters and infectious energy that has made the show a global phenomenon for over five decades.
Directed by Christopher Luscombe, the smash-hit musical features all of the famous songs which have made The Rocky Horror Show such a huge hit for 51 years and counting, including Sweet Transvestite, Science Fiction/Double Feature, Dammit Janet and, of course, the timeless floor-filler, The Time-Warp.
The Rocky Horror Show tells the story of Brad and his fiancée Janet, two squeaky clean American college kids who meet Dr Frank ‘n’ Furter by chance when their car breaks down outside his house whilst on their way to visit their favourite professor.
Their evening out rapidly descends into an adventure they’ll never forget, with fun, frolics, frocks and frivolity, bursting with timeless songs and outrageous outfits.
The Rocky Horror Show is a guaranteed party, which famously combines science-fiction, horror, comedy and music, while encouraging audience participation, including wearing the most outrageous costumes.
Beyond its cult status, The Rocky Horror Show was one of the first popular musicals to depict fluid sexuality during a time of division between generations and a lack of sexual difference acceptance.
Like the 1975 film adaptation, the musical is noted for a long-running tradition of audience participation through call-back lines and the audience members dressing up as characters from the show.
Jason Donovan is a very louche mad scientist Frank ‘n’ Furter, giving an over-the-top performance in the lead role, while Nathan Caton as the Narrator handled the audience call-back participation with polished aplomb, even making references to Bath, Swindon and Trowbridge.
The role of Brad is played by Connor Carson, Janet by Lauren Chia, Riff Raff by Job Greuter and Natasha Hoeberigs, doubling up in the roles of Magenta and the Usherette.
Columbia is played by Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli, the artificially-made Frankenstein-like monster Rocky by an extremely trim and athletic Morgan Jackson, complete with blond hair and a tan, and Eddie and Dr Scott by Edward Bullingham.
Completing the cast are Phantoms Ryan Carter-Wilson, Arthur Janes, Hollie Nelson, Erica Wild with on-stage swing Alex Hetherington and on-stage swing/dance captain Stacey Monahan.
Since the show first opened, The Rocky Horror Show has become the longest continuous run of a contemporary musical anywhere in the world.
There’s nothing like seeing the whole auditorium getting up to sing and dance to the Time-Warp song as the show closes. So, if you’ve got tickets, get ready to don your basque, stockings and suspenders, and join in with the fun.
The Rocky Horror Show appears at the Theatre Royal Bath to Saturday, October 19.
To book tickets contact the Box Office on 01225 448844 or book online at theatreroyal.org.uk
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