We Get the Lowdown On Rocky Horror From Frank ‘n’ Furter Himself – Stephen Webb

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW is well and truly back in business, setting out on its second tour which brings them back to South Wales next week.

This is the 50^th Anniversary of the legendary smash hit musical as it continues to play a newly extended tour through 2023 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 

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 figures behind the show speak for themselves, and we don’t mean those created by Frank’n’Furter – if you’ve seen the show you’ll know what we mean.

This time around we have the superb Motherland star JACKIE CLUNE known for her work on both stage and screen as the Narrator.

Jackie said……

“When the producers asked me to play the Narrator I was thrilled. The Rocky Horror Show is such a unique show. I just thought, I cannot say no to Time Warping up and down the country”

We see the return of STEPHEN WEBB in the role of Frank and he really is fantastic, there are no two ways about it. He embodies all that is Frank himself.

We caught up with Stephen in his car in Birmingham where the tour is finishing up before heading to us next week. You can also watch the interview, and many more, on our YouTube Channel HERE.

We chatted about his time in Rocky, what he loves about the role of Frank, and began with a look back at the last 12 months since the show was at the New Theatre in Cardiff…….

If you saw the previous tour, which was top-notch, then there are some familiar faces (and bodies) in the cast. HELEN FLAHERTY is Janet, BEN WESTHEAD is Rocky, RICHARD MEEK is Brad and KRISTIAN LAVERCOMBE is Riff Raff. On top of filling the role made famoius by Rickard O’Brien, Kristian is also ours. He originally comes from Neath, and is very much flying the South Wales flag through a record breaking 2000+ performances around the world – great job Kristian.

Best thing to do, it head over to the Rocky site and check out the full line up now – HERE.

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW is in the New Theatre in Cardiff from tonight (Monday) 10th to Saturday 15th April. There are 7:30pm shows on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday and Saturday there are 5:30pm and 8:30pm performances. For more details, and tickets, go here – ROCKY.

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:

1. Suits. These are only worn by people who thought they were booking for Phantom of the Opera or Chicago, but dialled the wrong number.
2. Sandals, anoraks or anything remotely connected with the acquisition of British Rail rolling stock serial numbers.
3. 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.

1. 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.
2. 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!
3. 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.
4. Have fun!