Theatre Royal, Nottingham – until Saturday 9th August 2025
Reviewed by Chris Jarvis
5*****
Having never seen The Rocky Horror Show I set off for Nottingham Royal Concert Hall wondering what to expect! Friends who aren’t RHS virgins like me, suggested I wear a red and black lace basque, stockings and suspenders with heavy Goth style makeup!!! Not a chance! However, on arrival it was great to see that absolutely anything goes!
One might expect those dressed in skimpy outfits to hide them under coats on public transport, but no-one seemed to bother. The Rocky Horror Show is in town and its cult following seemed almost ‘the norm’!
Still popular more than 50 years after the first performance in 1973 to an audience of 60, The Rocky Horror Show is a humorous tribute to various B movies associated with the science fiction and horror genres from the 1930s to the early 1960s bringing together aliens from transexual Transylvania, monsters and lovesick humans. The musical tells the story of a newly engaged, clean-cut couple whose car breaks down in a storm outside a spooky mansion – the home of a mad transvestite scientist, Dr Frank-N-Furter played tonight by none other than Jason Donovan. The original book, music and lyrics by Richard O’Brien, this production was directed by Christopher Luscombe.
The show opens with an usherette (Natasha Hoeberigs) singing Science Fiction Double Feature setting the scene for some of what was to come. We meet the young couple travelling from a wedding where Janet (Laura Chia) had managed to catch the bouquet and her partner Brad (Connor Carson) decides to ‘pop the question’! Then follows a tyre puncture so they ring the bell of the mansion and are met at the door by the somewhat scary manservant, Riff Raff (Job Greuter)
The play is narrated brilliantly by Nathan Caton who tries to keep the audience on track with what is happening. This was no mean feat as he was repeatedly interrupted by wisecracks from the initiated regulars in the audience. However, his totally unscripted responses had the audience laughing and cheering him on. He also brought the humour into 2025 with his witty references to Donald Trump, Harvey Weinstein and other current issues.
Other occupants of the creepy mansion appear as the bewildered couple wonder if they’ve made the right decision to seek help. We meet Riff Raff’s sister Magenta (Natasha Hoeberigs) and Columbia (Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli) who is in love with Frank.
Dr Frank-N-Furter makes a very dramatic appearance on stage to terrify and welcome Brad and Janet and invites them to his laboratory to meet his new creation Rocky (Arthur Janes), a Frankenstein-style monster in the form of an artificially-made, fully-grown, ripped muscle man.
Jason Donovan gave a brilliant performance as a crazy doctor with maniac tendencies. I was interested to learn that he’d requested to play Frank when he heard the musical was having a 50th Anniversary Tour, having played the part 25 years earlier.
The set was fantastic and atmospheric, and the actors were all brilliant in their outrageous costumes that were reflected by so many members of the audience. Basques, fishnet stockings and suspenders were everywhere, and various versions of the Time Warp dance erupted in the audience every time it was played, particularly at the end when everyone stood for a Dancing Ovation.
There were jumps to the left and steps to the right, hands on hips and knees in tight – but it was the pelvic thrusts that drove us insane!!
There are still tickets available for most performances this week so whether you’re a RHS virgin like me or a frequent flyer, it’s a wild and entertaining night out! Whether you decide to dress up or not just doesn’t matter but do get there early and enjoy ‘people watching’ the frivolous outfits of those who do.