Ad disclosure: We were provided with press tickets for the purpose of this post.
(4 stars)
James and I were back at the Alexandra last night for the press night of the UK tour of The Rocky Horror Show. If you’re a fan of old B-movies, rock ‘n’ roll, or simply enjoy a fun night at the theatre, this is a show everyone should experience at least once if they get the chance.
The Rocky Horror Show is well known as a true cult classic. Both the original stage musical and the film adaptation have amassed incredibly loyal followings over the years, although it’s fair to say they’re something of an acquired taste. If fishnets, innuendo, outrageous costumes and plenty of audience participation aren’t your thing, then this probably isn’t the show for you.
Originally created in the 1970s by Richard O’Brien (of The Crystal Maze fame), The Rocky Horror Show pays homage to classic sci-fi and horror B-movies with a storyline that’s quite literally out of this world. Clean-cut & picture perfect couple Brad and Janet suffer a breakdown and seek help at a mysterious castle, where they meet the wonderfully ridiculous transvestite scientist Dr Frank N Furter. After unveiling his latest creation, Rocky, chaos quickly ensues in a show that’s unapologetically over-the-top, gloriously melodramatic and completely bonkers.
The show opens with the usherette welcoming the audience to tonight’s “double feature picture show”, while the narrator regularly appears throughout to supposedly help explain the increasingly bizarre events unfolding on stage. In reality, they spend just as much time exchanging insults with the audience as they do narrating the story.
As a rule, it’s considered rude to talk during a theatre performance, let alone shout obscenities, wave lights around, get up and dance or generally embrace total mayhem. The Rocky Horror Show, much like a Christmas pantomime, is the glorious exception to the rule. Around a third of the audience arrived dressed so convincingly in the show’s signature glam rock style that they could easily have wandered onto the stage unnoticed. Many seasoned fans also knew “their lines”, enthusiastically shouting back at the narrator throughout the performance. After decades of performances, audience participation has become every bit as iconic as the show itself, with much of the banter and fourth-wall breaking now feeling like part of the tradition. The audience really is as much a part of the show as the cast.
Although the show still proudly wears its 1970s roots, the narrator is clearly given plenty of freedom to ad-lib. In our performance, stand-up comedian Jackie Clune was absolutely hilarious, weaving in jokes about current events, Birmingham references and England’s World Cup win, all of which had the audience roaring with laughter and cheering. Her quick wit & references helped keep the show feeling surprisingly fresh despite its age. I must admit I prefer her definition of MAGA… Make America Gay Again!
The rest of the cast were equally entertaining. Stephen Webb did a fabulous job of stepping into Tim Curry’s heels as the iconic Frank N Furter, bringing plenty of charisma and confidence to the role. James Bisp was excellent as Brad, while Haley Flaherty impressed as Janet. I also particularly enjoyed Daisy Steere’s energetic & eccentric Columbia, and Ryan Carter-Wilson’s delightfully creepy Riff Raff.
The sets, lighting and costumes all perfectly captured the show’s camp, B-movie aesthetic. I especially loved the giant film strip framing the stage, with the live band partially visible behind it, reinforcing the rock ‘n’ roll atmosphere throughout. The costumes were wonderfully flamboyant, and the cast somehow managed some incredibly quick costume changes without missing a beat.
Musically, the show was fantastic. The live band sounded brilliant, the choreography was full of energy, and the cast delivered some outstanding vocals. Naturally, The Time Warp brought the house down with plenty of people in the audience jumping up to join in. There were a handful of moments where the band slightly overpowered the performers and some lyrics were lost beneath the music, but thankfully these moments were few and far between.
The only real hiccup of the evening came when a power issue forced the performance to pause for just over ten minutes. Jackie Clune popped out from behind the curtain to loudly explain what was happening in true Rocky Horror style, making the audience laugh. These things occasionally happen in live theatre, and both the technical team and cast handled the situation brilliantly. Once the performance resumed, the cast picked up exactly where they had left off without missing a beat – not a single person seemed to let it throw them off.
The evening ended with the audience on their feet, joyfully joining in with a reprise of The Time Warp and giving the cast a thoroughly deserved standing ovation. It was clear everyone had had a fantastic time.
The Rocky Horror Show is at the Alexandra until Saturday 11th July before continuing to Bristol, York and Manchester for the final dates of the UK tour. ATG recommends the show for ages 12+, with parental discretion advised. Personally, although Lydia is 13, I think I’d probably wait another year or two before taking her, simply because some of the humour is decidedly adult – especially the audience contributions!
The Rocky Horror Show remains a gloriously outrageous night at the theatre that’s unlike almost anything else on stage. Pure theatrical chaos in the best possible way, it combines memorable songs, larger-than-life performances and an audience experience that’s every bit as entertaining as the show itself. Aside from a couple of minor sound balance issues and the unavoidable technical interruption, this was a hugely enjoyable evening that reminded me exactly why this cult classic has endured for over 50 years.
