The Rocky Horror Show at Liverpool Playhouse
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Those looking for something a little different over the festive season should head to Liverpool Playhouse for the new West End and 50th-anniversary production of The Rocky Horror Show. Sensational, funny and sexy – with Jason Donovan starring as Frank-N-Furter for the opening week – the show promises a thrilling night out and a Christmas party like no other.
Packed with timeless songs, outlandish outfits and relentless energy, Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical has been delighting audiences for over five decades. With half a century of jumping to the left and stepping to the right, The Rocky Horror Show is a hip-thrusting global phenomenon from another dimension.
Directed by Christopher Luscombe, The Rocky Horror Show tells the story of two squeaky clean college kids – Brad and his fiancée Janet. When the couple set out to visit a former college professor, their car breaks down outside a creepy mansion and they are introduced to the charming and flamboyant Dr Frank’n’Furter. What follows is a weird and wonderful adventure – filled with “fun, frolics, frocks and frivolity”.
The larger-than-life cast is set to include Liverpool’s favourite radio personality Leanne Campbell as The Narrator (from 9 December – 4 January) and Liverpool legend Pete Price (from 3 – 7 December). While, singing superstar Jason Donovan is set to give a show-stopping performance as Frank-N-Furter (from 3 – 7 December), before passing the fishnets over to Stephen Webb, who will continue the remainder of the run.
Featuring all the popular musical numbers, ‘Sweet Transvestite’, ‘Damn It Janet’, and the pelvic-thrusting showstopper, ‘Time Warp’ – The Rocky Horror Show offers audiences a guaranteed party. Of course, the show is famous for encouraging audience participation – singing and dancing along – and of course, getting dressed up in the most outrageous fancy dress.
It’s hard to believe that the musical was first performed in 1973 to an audience of just 63 people. Over fifty years later, the show has been seen by over 35 million theatregoers worldwide and boasts the longest continuous run of a contemporary musical anywhere in the world. Some big names including Russell Crowe, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Jerry Springer, Jason Donovan and Meat Loaf have starred in the show too, and the 1975 film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, continues to delight cinema audiences more than 40 years after its release.
This timeless musical – packed with sassy songs, saucy wit and feel-good escapism – will have you on your feet from start to finish. Don’t leave it too long to get your tickets.
