The Rocky Horror Show - Tour / Dominion

I believe the current version started in 2006 with David Bedella, so that's around 18 years which is still a long time given it's only taken the odd year or two off.
The last significantly different production was the Pearl Anniversary tour in 2003 starring Jonathan Wilkes, which was Christopher Malcolm's last as Director.

Thanks!

Don’t remember the 2003 version at all (was a wild child and not really seeing musicals in that era lol).

Was it the same as Malcolm’s 90’s version or a different production?!

I saw a few of the 90s productions, but didn't see the 2003 Pearl tour with Wilkes... my memory fades but I have a vague feeling that there were few stylistic changes throughout Malcolm's run. That's not to say it wasn't good!

Although I've been saying the current production is looking a little tired, I still love it and am still hovering over my credit card pondering whether to organize a visit to London. I saw Jason as Frank back in 1999, so it would be great to see him in the role again, and despite many fabulous years of Kristian Lavercombe it will be good to see a new take on Riff-Raff. I'm also very excited about Mawaan Rizwan as I'm something of a fan, and also Connor Carson (Brad) as he was one of the few good things about the recent Closer to Heaven.

Unfortunately with everything else going on in the UK, I'm a bit wary of staying away from home (London or otherwise), I need to pluck up the courage!



I'm trying to imagine a Jamie Lloyd treatment...

I think the issue with Rocky Horror and also to an extent Blood Brothers is that they're treated like cash cows with no investment in them to improve things and eventually that starts to show after a number of years.

If I were reinventing Rocky Horror, I would look for an old cinema, the grungier the better and make it the production dark, dirty and sexy as possible with no callbacks from the audience, no dressing up as Frank and no guest stars as the narrator. I wonder if doubling up Trixie and the Narrator could work?

I'm seeing this in Bromley this week - accidentally booked 5.30 performance so no idea what the audience will be like - oh well - taking the kids (24 & 17) as they haven't seen it before - they have seen the film

Saw it last year though and was so very very disappointed. I have loved it in the past and went with a group of friends who knew the call backs and had seen it before. We were all so disappointed as the cast just seemed so bored and were gong through the motions - been at it far too long.

Cheap tickets came up to this one , thought we;d give it a go as is local and a fresher cast - but I am not expecting much to be honest and my daughter thought Jason was rubbish in Grease and much preferred the Peter Andre nights.

I first saw a rather pantomime version in the 80s which was sh*t but fun in a panto way. We used to dress up and see it at the cinema dressed up fairly regularly - then saw the reworked version with Tim McInerny, Gina Bellman, Ade Edmonson, Edward Tudor-Pole, Mary from Eastenders etc and that was fantastic. But hadn't seen it live again until last year.

What an improvement on Jason's performance in the role of over 20 years ago. Before he was like a rabbit in the headlights & couldn't deal with audience participation. Now he is terrific.

This really hasn’t sold well for the dominion at all. Today tix have it in their theatre week discount but I think it’s still too expensive. Does anyone know of any other ticket offers for it?

It’s already been sending me 65% off emails for weeks, but I’m sure if things stay the same they’ll go down to the booking fee only deal.

It’s unfortunate, as Rocky Horror is probably top of the list of shows where you really need passionate, dedicated audience members to fill the seats and create the symbiotic atmosphere. Not neutrals who are just there taking a chance on a freebie.

This was an embarrassment of riches in Melbourne Australia, Jason miscast in a production that was worse than a high school. Cheap cardboard sets with no sense of fun to be found.

saw it today - odd 5.30 showing so not a normal Friday night Rocky Horror audience - I didnt notice when I booked and misread 17.30 as 7.30.

Better than when I saw it last year - still not the greatest - but Brad, Janet, Narrator, Rocky, even Eddie/Dr Scott and Magenta/Usherette were all strong but Jason, Columbia and RiffRaff irritated me. They are new and only started this week so things may settle.

Jason looked shattered - I worried about how he was going to get through the 9pm show. I didn't feel the Jason was a strong enough singer and so some songs were a bit lost as he didn't have the power to deliver them properly.

24 year old daughter really enjoyed herself, 17 year old son thought we were going to see 'the one with the man eating plant' - he enjoyed the narrator and the audience participation, but didn't have a clue what was going on - which I understand as it has been tweaked and cut the point that the little plot there is has been left confusing and unclear - it's only because most of us have seen the film/the show before that we know. Had to explain it all to thme in the interval. Daughter had seen the film as a kid and saw the Glee version and was more aware of what to expect.

Were there many audience members in costume?

Like a lot of other old warhorse shows touring the UK, dreadfully dated. No incentive to update, as they rely on an undemanding audience.

(see also: Blood Brothers)