Are you ready for a raucously riotous night out with high heels, fish nets and Jason Donovan like you’ve never dreamt of seeing him before?
Then book your tickets now for The Rocky Horror Show which has crashed landed in style at the Leeds Grand Theatre, because they won’t last for long once news of this sexy, scandalous show is out.
This gloriously bonkers musical, dreamed up by Richard O’Brien back in 1973, is a deliciously camp mash-up of sci-fi, B-movie horror, rock ‘n’ roll and utter filth. It follows squeaky-clean Brad and Janet, whose car breaks down during a storm (of course it does), landing them in the castle of the utterly unhinged Dr. Frank-N-Furter—a “sweet transvestite” from the planet Transsexual in the galaxy of Transylvania – who unveils that same night (obviously) his latest creation – a ‘perfectly formed’ muscular man named Rocky.
Things escalate quickly: clothes are removed, inhibitions are abandoned and everyone (naturally) ends up in fishnet tights and corsets.
At a time when theatre etiquette is under the spotlight (remember the Bodyguard incident where audience members were singing along and the police were called?), Rocky Horror burns the rule book and stands out as a glorious exception.
This show thrives on interactive audience participation and has long been a symbol of countercultural expression and LGBTQ+ pride. If you’re someone who enjoys joining in then it’s easy to search online for a
free copy of the script with all the audience lines written down for you. I was a bit unsure about what kind of crowd would turn up on a Monday night at Leeds Grand Theatre, but Leeds did me proud! From fabulous fancy dress to a seriously impressive number of men in fishnets and heels (outdoing even the cast of Kinky Boots a few weeks ago!), the atmosphere was electric.
One of the most brilliant choices in this production was casting professional comedian Nathan Caton as the Narrator. His quick-witted comebacks and confident delivery had us in stitches, and his charm brought a unique swagger and cheeky masculinity that the audience loved. Usually, audience dancing is saved for the end of the show, but not here—we were all up doing the Time Warp halfway through Act One like it was 1am in a nightclub, not 8:30pm on a Monday night.
And then there’s Jason Donovan. Nothing could have prepared me for his entrance as Frank- N-Furter. My jaw genuinely dropped. “That is not him,” I whispered to my friend. Only the occasional Aussie joke gave it away. This was not the Jason of Neighbours fame, nor the one who sang “Any Dream Will Do” on my Joseph soundtrack that I listened to endlessly as a child. A ‘sweet transvestite’ he most definitely was. His audacity, flirtation and graphic innuendos were as far removed as possible from the boy-next-door image he used to have. This was a sex-obsessed, raucous comedy genius — an absolute revelation in suspenders and stilettos. His transformation alone is worth the ticket
The first act had me crying from laughter at almost every moment: the exaggerated innocence of Brad and Janet, performed by Connor Carson and Lauren Chia, was hammed up to perfection, with famous catchy songs like ‘The Time Warp’, ‘Dammit Janet’ and ‘Sweet Transvestite’ giving the show brilliant energy and pace.
The second act started with the funniest scene in the show, where both Brad and Janet end up in bed (separately!) with Frank N Furter. It was so unashamedly raunchy with stunning comedy timing that I was crying from laughter.
The show did take a dip in pace after this, falling into the usual second act plunder of slow, ‘finding-oneself’ songs that could have done with some background comedy from the chorus in a show like this, with even the more rock-based songs becoming a little repetitive.
However, the audience participation brought the energy back up towards the end, finishing the show on the same high that it ended the stunning first act with.
If you’re someone who prefers your theatre experiences polite and quiet, this isn’t the show for you. But if you’re after a hilarious night out, a production where literally anything could happen, and a show where smut and sass are not just welcomed but positively encouraged, then get yourself to Leeds Grand Theatre.
Dig out your fishnets and fasten those corsets—you’re in for a scandalously good time.
Rocky Horror Show is at Leeds Grand Theatre until 7 June.
