Following its sold-out run in August 2023, The Rocky Horror Show is back with plenty of energy, flair, and the quirky charm that has made it a cult favourite for decades. Directed by Christopher Luscombe, this revival of Richard O’Brien’s rock ‘n’ roll musical delivers a well-paced night of entertainment that blends cheeky humour, bold performances, and enduring crowd-pleasing songs.
The plot remains deliciously odd: straight-laced sweethearts Brad and Janet find themselves stranded when their car breaks down outside a mysterious mansion. Their search for help leads them into the strange world of Dr Frank’n’Furter, a self-dramatising alien scientist whose household is a mash-up of B-movie tropes, glam rock attitude, and fluid sexuality.
Adam Strong makes a strong (forgive the pun) impression as Frank’n’Furter, mixing theatrical swagger with controlled vocals and a clear sense of character. On opening night, Ryan Carter-Wilson stepped into the role of Brad due to the indisposition of scheduled lead Connor Carson. He handled the part with assurance and an easy, slightly awkward charm that played nicely opposite Lauren Chia’s Janet, whose gradual shift from nervous politeness to emboldened curiosity was well judged.
Nathan Caton, as The Narrator, deserves special mention. Beyond delivering the scripted lines confidently, he leaned into the tradition of audience callbacks – fielding shouted heckles with quick, good-humoured replies, several of which definitely felt off-the-cuff.
The rest of the cast provided solid support: Job Greuter’s Riff Raff is pale, watchful, and just unsettling enough; Natasha Hoeberigs brings bite to both Magenta and the Usherette; and Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli supplies crisp timing and physicality as Columbia. Morgan Jackson’s Rocky more than meets the role’s athletic brief, while Edward Bullingham brings enthusiasm to the contrasting roles of Eddie and Dr Scott.
Audience participation, always part of the Rocky Horror experience, was present but slightly dialled back compared with the fuller-costumed turnout seen during the August 2023 run. A few of the audience members still came dressed to impress with fishnets, top hats and biker jackets – but not quite as many as previous years. Even so, the callbacks came through loud, and confident which helped make the atmosphere seem very fun. Combined with Caton’s quick-witted volleys in return, these interactions lent the performance a warm, communal feel that’s hard to manufacture and remains one of the show’s great pleasures.
Overall, this production doesn’t aim to reinvent The Rocky Horror Show; instead, it embraces the material’s campy DNA and delivers it cleanly, with personality and audience connection front and centre. Whether you’re returning for another Time Warp or finally seeing what all the fuss is about, you’ll find an engaging, good-natured night out that honours the cult classic without tipping into excess. To find out more information or to book tickets click here.
