United Kingdom Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show: Grand Theatre, Blackpool, 11.5.2026. (MC)
The publicity blurb boasts that Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical The Rocky Horror Show has now been seen by more than 35 million theatregoers, staged in 30 countries and translated into 20 languages. Before the performance at The Grand Theatre, I hadn’t been one of them as this was my first The Rocky Horror Show.
Doesn’t time fly. Incredibly, it’s now over fifty years since award-winning The Rocky Horror Show received its premiere in June 1973 at London’s Royal Court, Upstairs Theatre holding some 60 people. The popularity of the show took some time to gather momentum into the tour de force it has become having gained ‘cult-classic’ status.
Blackpool is the first of several venues on this touring schedule of The Rocky Horror Show which revives the production directed by Christopher Luscombe and his design team. Tried and tested Luscombe’s original production is now over twenty years old, and this revival felt exhilarating and compelling from start to finish.
The plot concerns Brad and his fiancée Janet who are clean as a whistle college students virtuous in all respects. On their journey to visit their old college professor, we saw their car which as luck would have it conks out close to an eerie looking mansion. Encountering the star of the show the enigmatic Frank-n-Furter and his band of creepy acolytes the couple will never be the same again.
This naughty comedy caper having achieved ‘cult fandom’ with a devoted and enthusiastic following, some of whom are repeat attenders and dress up like Frank-n-Furter et al. The brazen appearance of men wearing heavy makeup, wigs and headdresses, Basques, fishnets and heels is a look that has become a vogue template for some followers. Many people say that The Rocky Horror Show has helped assist a positive perception of the LGBTQIA+ community. There was lots of interaction from the audience notably bellowing out remarks prior to the dialogue and hurling bits and pieces like flowers and underwear on the stage.
Belying its age Hugh Durrant’s set designs, a cross between fantasy and horror, still looked relatively futuristic. Rightly and predictably Sue Blane’s costumes were Basques and fishnets, top hats, kinky boots and heels. Nathan Wright did a splendid job with the wildly energetic choreography and Nick Richings’s lighting design with the help of lasers flashed across the stage and the audience at times.
Stephen Webb had the role of Frank (Frank-n-Furter) the star of the show. Such a talented performer Webb threw his heart and soul into the role and came up trumps. Standing out was Frank’s big song Sweet Transvestite, with the repeated line I’m just a sweet transvestite. From Transexual, Transylvania certainly pleased and excited the audience.
Excelling in the roles of the couple Brad and Janet were James Bisp and Lucy Aiston, who replaced the advertised Haley Flaherty. Enjoyable was Damn it Janet sung by Bisp and Aiston and delivered with a clever amount of youthful naivety. Initially a strait-laced couple it wasn’t long before Frank introduced bespectacled Brad and blonde-haired Janet to adventurous sexual antics. Everyone clearly adored their hilariously steamy scene with the vertically positioned double bed.
A confident and convincing actor, Ryan Carter-Wilson had the role of the mischievous Riff Raff, an oily minion of Frank. Later both Riff Raff and Magenta rebelled, donning spacesuits and holding ray guns attempting an escape to their home planet. Magenta was taken by Laura Bird who also played the pink dressed, cinema Usherette holding a tray of ice cream and lollies. At the start of the show Bird sang the Usherette’s number Science Fiction/Double Feature attractively and deliberately wobbly, and its reprise in the concluding scene was so soothing.
Morgan Jackson can be proud of himself for his role as Frank’s partner Rocky. Muscular and tanned Jackson played Rocky dressed mainly in a pair of leopard print trunks, gold boxing boots and bow tie. Both giving excellent performances were Daisy Steere as the feisty Columbia and Edward Bullingham in the dual roles of Eddie and Dr. Scott a wheelchair user.
An audience favourite was the narrator Nathan Caton a comedian with a confident and natural stage presence. Caton was happy to make fun of himself, and his often-rude comedy was well received. In the manner of a Christmas pantomime, he made humorous references to figures currently in the news including Keir Starmer, Donald Trump, Nigel Farage and the former Prince Andrew. How the audience laughed when it was revealed that Dr Scott was wearing stockings under his wheelchair blanket. Later narrator Caton’s predilection for wearing stockings was rumbled when his trousers were ripped off. All predictable but good fun.
It would be remiss not to mention the music director Adam Smith on keyboards who led an awesome sounding band comprising Ollie Boorman (drums), Luke Beirne (guitar), Dan Humphreys (bass) and Dave Webb (reeds).
My favourite scene was the iconic Time Warp a timeless classic sung and danced by Frank and the ensemble. This often heard, ultra-catchy song was powerful performed and proved it can still thrill. Towards the conclusion of the show many of the audience stood and sang a final rendition of Time Warp and copy the dance moves.
At Blackpool’s Grand Theatre the sensational if naughty The Rocky Horror Show proved to be irresistible entertainment.
Michael Cookson
For more about The Rocky Horror Show on tour click here.
Featured Image: The cast of The Rocky Horror Show
Creatives:
Author – Richard O’Brien
Director – Christopher Luscombe
Designs – Hugh Durrant
Costumes – Sue Blane
Choreography – Nathan M Wright
Lighting – Nick Richings
Sound – Gareth Owen
Music – Richard Hartley (Original musical arrangements)
Music Supervisor – Greg Arrowsmith
Cast:
Frank-n-Furter – Stephen Webb
Janet – Lucy Aiston
Brad – James Bisp
Riff Raff – Ryan Carter-Wilson
Magenta / Usherette – Laura Bird
Columbia – Daisy Steere
Rocky – Morgan Jackson
Eddie / Dr Scott – Edward Bullingham
Phantoms – Nathan Zach Johnson, Jesse Chidera, Tyla Dee Nurden, Bethany Amber Perrins
Swing / Dance Captain – David Peter-Brown
Narrator – Nathan Caton
Band:
Musical Director / Keyboards – Adam Smith
Drums – Ollie Boorman
Bass – Dan Humphreys
Guitar – Luke Beirne
Reeds – Dave Webb