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Rocky Horror Celebrates 30th Birthday in West End

As previously tipped, Richard O'Brien's ever-popular The Rocky Horror Show will return to London to celebrate its 30th birthday (See The Goss, 6 Mar 2003 & 6 Sep 2002). At the conclusion of its current anniversary tour, the cult musical, famous for its high degree of audience participation and flamboyant fancy dress, will have a strictly limited fortnight - from 23 June to 5 July 2003 - at the West End's Queen's Theatre.

Inspired by Richard O'Brien's childhood love of schlock sci-fi films, the original Rocky Horror premiered at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs in 1973 and later spawned the 1975 cult film (starring Susan Sarandon, Tim Curry and Meatloaf) as well as countless revivals. The score includes "Sweet Transvestite," "Damn It Janet" and "Time Warp". O'Brien is now preparing a long-awaited sequel to the show (See The Goss, 15 Apr 2002).

The revival is directed by Christopher Malcolm, who starred as Brad in the original Royal Court production. The touring cast are pop star Jonathan Wilkes as Frank N Furter (Godspell), Neil Couperthwaite as Riff Raff, Graham Tudor as Rocky, Drew Jaymson as Eddie, Katie Rowley-Jones (Janet), Jon Boydon (Brad), Andrea Stevens (Magenta) and Sally Hunt (Columbia).

The tour has also featured a rotating schedule of celebrity guest narrators in the form of MP's wife Christine Hamilton, "Nasty Nick" Bateman from Big Brother, comedienne Rhona Cameron and Manchester's former deputy chief constable John Stalker.

The 30th anniversary tour, which launched in September 2002, is in Nottingham this week and continues until 21 June 2003, calling at Leeds, Northampton, Jersey, Reading and Cardiff before transferring to the West End.

- by Terri Paddock

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