THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW is well and truly back in business, setting out on tour which brings them back to South Wales this week.
This is the 50 plus Anniversary of the legendary smash hit musical as it continues to play a newly extended tour through 2024/25 to sell-out crowds. To be honest it’s been pretty much half a century of non-stop partying since it first opened in London in June 1973 at the Royal Court Theatre.
And with the cast now in place we can tell you this is going to be one hell of a Rocky Party when it gets to the capital.
JASON DONOVAN will lead the cast at New Theatre Cardiff. Brad will be played by Connor Carson, Janet by Lauren Chia, Riff Raff by Job Greuter and Magenta / Usherette by Natasha Hoeberigs. Columbia will be played by Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli, Rocky by Morgan Jackson and Eddie / 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.
As for the narrator, that role is taken by Rocky Horror newbie, comedian NATHAN CATON. We tracked Nathan down at one of the venues for a chat about the role and how he actually found himself in musical theatre. Apologies for the Zoom quality, it was in a room with poor light and signal, it in way spoils the interview, as you’ll see……
Jason will be returning to the role of Frank for the first time in the UK for over 25 years.
Jason told us……..
“I am thrilled to dive into the exhilarating role of Frank ‘n’ Furter with a fantastic new cast and Timewarp with audiences throughout the UK. We promise to deliver the freshest Rocky EVER, that audiences will not forget. So, buckle up, as the show promises to be a wild and wicked ride!”
Neighbours icon and pop legend Jason Donovan will be donning his fishnets for UK audiences after a sellout season at the Theatre Royal, Sydney for which he received rave reviews: “Jason Donovan is astounding!” exclaimed the Sydney Scoop. Jason made his West End debut in 1991 playing Joseph in the London revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and has gone on to have a hugely successful stage career with credits including Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Grease The Musical. Jason’s debut album went platinum in Australia and was the biggest selling album in the UK in 1989. Since then, he has sold over 13 million albums worldwide and continues to tour with his live show.
Producer Howard Panter told us…..
“I’m delighted to announce that we are extending the 2024/2025 tour for a further three months in the spring next year. We’ve assembled a first class cast to deliver a guaranteed party at every performance, as the show continues to thrill audiences across the UK.”
Richard O’Brien’s legendary The Rocky Horror Show has become the longest continuous run of a contemporary musical anywhere in the world. The show has been seen by over 30 million people worldwide in more than 30 countries and translated into 20 languages as it continues to delight audiences on its sell-out international tour.
As usual, the crowd are loving it, and dressing the part too – which is always a great thing to see. If you are one of those who still haven’t seen it, and more importantly, haven’t lived the full Rocky experience, you really must catch it this time around.
The show also sees the return of STEPHEN WEBB in the role of Frank for some of the tour dates and he really is fantastic.
Head over to the Rocky site for more – HERE.
THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW gets to the New Theatre in Cardiff from Monday 4th to Saturday 9th November. There are 7:30pm shows on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday there’s a 5pm and 8:30pm performances and Saturday it’s 2:30pm and 7:30pm. For more details, and tickets, go here – ROCKY.
FYI Jason won’t be performing in Cardiff on the 4th and 5th November.
The RHPS didn’t begin its life as a movie but burst onto the stage at the Royal Court Theatre in 1973, the film made an appearance a couple of years later. Since then it really has gone on to become a monster show, touring over thirty countries, on every continent.
I think it’s with the movie trailer we need to begin, this is the original (and best). As you watch it, try and name as many of the stars as you can, there’s some big names in it. HERE.
Okay, who did you spot?
The full cast list is……
- Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, an eccentric bisexual transvestite scientist
- Susan Sarandon as Janet Weiss, a heroine
- Barry Bostwick as Brad Majors, a hero
- Richard O’Brien as Riff Raff, a handyman
- Patricia Quinn as Magenta, a domestic
- Nell Campbell (credited as Little Nell) as Columbia, a groupie
- Jonathan Adams as Dr. Everett V. Scott, a rival scientist
- Peter Hinwood as Rocky Horror, a creation (Trevor White was the singing voice)
- Meat Loaf as Eddie, an ex-delivery boy
- Charles Gray as the Criminologist, an expert
Richard O’ Brien may be known to many as the presenter of the Crystal Maze, but he is also the genius who wrote Rocky. Which brings us very nicely onto the latest tour.
How do we begin to tell you the story? That’s easy, we’ll let the shows tour team tell you.
Ready to thrill you with its frothy, fun, and naughty moments, this is the boldest bash of them all, so sharpen those stilettos for the rockiest ride of your life! Follow squeaky-clean sweethearts Brad and Janet on an adventure they’ll never forget, with the scandalous Frank’n’Furter, rippling Rocky and vivacious Magenta. Get ready for a night of fun, frolics and frivolity in this thrilling production of Richard O’Brien’s classic original script! Bursting at the seams with timeless classics, including Sweet Transvestite, Damn it Janet, and of course, the pelvic-thrusting Time Warp, Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror show is a non-stop party!
Usually we’d say with these things, just turn up and enjoy the whole experience, in the case of Rocky, a little preparation is needed to fully appreciate the awesomeness of the whole experience.
Directed by Christopher Luscombe the show features all the songs we love to join in with, including Sweet Transvestite, Damn it Janet, and of course, the pelvic-thrusting Time Warp. If nothing else, you at least have to learn how to dance the Time Warp.
There are literally thousands of videos online to guide you through the steps, this however is one of our favourites. Not only can you learn the dance, but the girls from NEVER STOP DANCING put you through one hell of a cardio workout – enjoy.
Now you’ve watched them do it (they’re good aren’t they), here is Virginia taking you through every step and move so you will be a Time Warp pro by the time the show gets here. ROUTINE
And to find out more about the tour, see the reviews and some amazing Fan Art, just head to their site HERE.
Finally, and more as a word of warning, there are some guidelines to follow if you want to enjoy the full Rocky Horror experience. We’re not saying you MUST get dressed for the occasion, but seriously, you MUST.
Let’s bring you the full details from the show producers………
THE VIRGIN’S GUIDE TO THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
There is a huge myth, circulated by goodness knows who, that the only way you can enjoy The Rocky Horror Show is to get dressed up in all the gear. Well, although this will enhance your enjoyment, is certainly isn’t essential!
So there you are, sat in a theatre waiting to see The Rocky Horror Show for the first time, when a strangely dressed person comes up to you and utters the immortal phrase “are you a virgin?” Don’t panic, it’s not a proposition (although you never know your luck!). Anybody who hasn’t seen Rocky before, be they twelve or seventy is commonly known as a ‘virgin’. Let’s face It, at some time in our lives we have all been virgins as far as Rocky is concerned! But don’t worry, help is at hand. In order to guide you through the experience of Rocky Horror there now follows the original virgin survival guide, the indispensable guide to Rocky etiquette, audience participation and dress codes.
DRESS
Optional. Whilst some of us look good in a dress, some of us don’t. You may find that after a show or two you may like to wear something a little more outrageous, stockings, basque, high heels (females may also wear these items). You may even become a diehard fan and start to make perfect copies of the costumes worn during the show. For now just wear something casual but remember to follow the three step guide of clothes that should never be worn to Rocky, as follows:
- Suits. These are only worn by people who thought they were booking for Phantom of the Opera or Chicago, but dialled the wrong number.
- Sandals, anoraks or anything remotely connected with the acquisition of British Rail rolling stock serial numbers.
- Sweatshirts with stripes, see next section.
No matter what you Decide, just remember the main reason you are going is to enjoy yourself and have a great time. There will always be someone at the theatre who looks more out of place than you do so, throw off any cares and doubts, let your hair down and enjoy – you’ll thank me in the long run! Also, never make fun of anyone else’s costume. Remember they have spent ages getting it the way they want it and this is not a fancy dress competition – you and they are there to enjoy the evening, pure and simple! Anyway, some of those men in fishnets can’t half pack a punch!
Remember the golden rule:
‘There will always be someone who looks more out of place than you do!’
DANCING
Although not compulsory you may find that during the Time Warp you are the only person in the audience not on your feet. Pop quiz, can you spot the two virgins in this photograph? Score one point if you said the two ladies in the foreground. Score a further two points if you spotted the people sitting down in the second row. However if you said the guy in the striped shirt you score a twenty points, See Dress section of previous page.
The people in this photography are dancing the Time Warp by simply following the rule: ‘Do what it says in the song’. Do the same and you’ll be able to participate in this famous dance. For example, the phrase ‘its just a jump to the left’ should accompanied with a jump to the left. If you want to get up and boogie to other songs feel free to do so, but remember that the Time Warp is the only dance that has set moves.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
Please note that it is considered very bad etiquette to throw something onto the stage, it could mean that the show is cancelled and a thousand fans turn on you in an instance!
Audience Participation started back in the 1970’s in the USA and made it over to the UK a few years later. Originally only for the movie, the ‘AP’ has become a part of the stage show as well. Fans have been dressing up, shouting back lines and singing along to the show for thirty years now.
Audience Participation should always be complementary to the show, never just shouting out lines for the hell of it.
There are hundreds of talk-back lines that have been used over the years, and more are created by the audience at every show. There is no such thing as a definitive Audience Participation script as often call back lines are topical – Rocky being called a Pokemon worked in May 2000, but isn’t so funny now. To paraphrase the great philosopher Roger Rabbit, ‘it only works if its funny’.
It should be noted that many lines that are used at the file screenings don’t translate to the stage productions. Shouting ‘where’s your neck?’ for instance to every narrator just doesn’t work as unlike Charles Gray in the film, most do seem to have one.
ROCKY HORROR ETIQUETTE
‘Etiquette?’ I hear you cry – at a show with the principle of ‘Don’t dream it, be it?’. Yep, there still are a few things to bear in mind when you are partaking in the Rocky experience.
The idea of Rocky Horror participation is to have fun, not disrupt the show. The following guidelines will help you and the other members of the audience to enjoy the show to the maximum pleasure level.
- If you are dressing up for the show, don’t criticise other people’s costumes. Everyone has the right to wear whatever they wish. Some people make carbon-copies of the stage costumes, others take a more abstract approach. Some don’t dress up at all.
- Talk-back lines should be used to add to the Rocky experience, don’t try to shout down other people, they might know some better lines, the best lines are the unexpected., especially if the cast start to giggle!
- Don’t throw rice or water at the performers, spotlights or screen. In fact, don’t throw them all. It may be dangerous and may result in the show being halted.
- Have fun!
