SINCE its debut back in 1975, ‘Rocky Horror Show’ has attracted a half century of gender-bending and generation-blending faithful audiences around the globe. Last night it kicked off the 2025 tour at Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre.
I watched in awe and amusement as the audience poured in, dressed in a glorious gathering of basques, stockings, suspenders, operating gowns, space suits, sparkly hats and many more representations of what the cast would be wearing onstage.
They were here not just to see the show but to party and venerate at the holy grail of Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical bonanza.
Lights up and the fabulous band under the musical direction of Josh Sood kick off to a mighty roar from the audience. Natasha Hoeberigs enters as the Usherette and stands silhouetted against a stunning festooned shimmering oyster satin cinema curtain. She sings as sexily as she looks – then deftly pulls back the exotic tab to reveal the new circular set incarnation by Designer Hugh Durrant. This is the first of many movie style transitions to seamlessly showcase the mayhem, mirth and madness.
Brad and Janet, (beautifully crafted goody-goody opening performances from Connor Carson and Laura Chia) are driving in their car with a tyre that is about to go bang and leave them broken down outside a gothic mansion.
Enter legendary actress and comedienne Jackie Clune as the Narrator. Clune is everything a good host should be – engaging, sharp-witted and nicely naughty – she can bat the banter like a baseball champ. Good thing too, because for every line she reads or Brad and Janet say, wags in the audience shout out a quip, a question or deliver it before or with them.
Brad and Janet seek help at the house – all they want is to make a phone call – but what they get is seduction and sex education with (literally) knobs on!
That’s all the plot you need to know, if you don’t already know it and I suspect most of you reading this already do!
The whole Company are high octane – giving both stunning individual and inclusive performances. Job Greuter makes a suitably seedy and dandruff spreading old retainer Riff Raff. Natasha Hoeberigs doubles as the usherette and the magnificent vampiric beauty Magenta, Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli plays gorgeous alien Columbia. Morgan Jackson catapults, somersaults and generally does things with his body that shouldn’t be possible and still manages to sing and act superbly as Rocky, the Frankenstein creation.
Edward Bullingham does a convincing double as sultry rock star Eddie and wheelchair bound Dr. Scott. Ryan Carter-Wilson, Arthur Janes, Hollie Nelson and Erica Wild complete the all-new company casting.
That is of course except for Adam Strong as the gothic rock god – Frank N Furter – following in huge and legendary footsteps, Strong excites, captivates and leads both cast and audience imperially. He is theout?? master and mistress of ceremonies, our naughty fakir, teasing and pleasing and sensationally singing from the raunchy ‘Sweet Transvestite’ through to the poignancy of ‘I’m Going Home’.
Christopher Luscombe directs with skill and passion whilst Nathan M Wright’s choreography beguiles raunchily. Nick Richings’ lighting design is stunningly rock ‘n’ roll and iconically historic.
The congregation – sorry, audience – participated profusely yet remained respectful when required so full marks to them too. Cast and musicians (stunning reeds by Dave Webb) are melded as one.
Grab one of the few remaining tickets whilst you can. For those of you that have – dig out the suspenders and ‘Let’s do the Time Warp Again’ and for those of you that haven’t – roll up, roll up for the silliest wackiest, naughtiest, sexiest night out you’ll get in Birmingham town this week.
The Rocky Horror Show is at the Alexandra Theatre until Saturday, March 22. Click here for times, tickets and more information.
*****
Review by
Euan Rose Reviews
