RICHARD O’BRIEN’S ROCKY HORROR SHOW
★★★★★
_REVIEW. it’s about _THEATRE. words _KYLE PEDLEY.
at _THE ALEXANDRA. tickets _OFFICIAL SITE. booking until _1st APR.
images © David Freeman.
Let’s do the timewarp, again.
…again.
When it comes to musical favourites on repeat, Rocky Horror Show is the flag-waving, heel-kicking standard bearer for keep on keepin’ on. It should, by now, be spouted in theatre circles that the only things to survive a nuclear holocaust would likely be cockroaches, Liz Truss’ inexplicable career, and a touring production of Richard O’Brien’s madcap classic.
And yet, as the world turns, doing its own ‘jump to the left and step to the right’ in the process, the times that this venerable production (nigh identical in staging to when this particular author first reviewed, over a decade ago) finds itself landing in are a-changing, too.
Perhaps more than ever in recent memory, in the wake and gloom of a pandemic, the drab ebb of financial crises, and the regressive, authoritarian stamp being slapped across the world onto expression, individuality and flamboyance, the world needs Rocky Horror.

It’s fortunate then, that the class of 2022/23 – a mix of veterans and newcomers alike to camp Rocky – rise to the occasion for this current World tour.
As the now-iconic splash of the show’s Columbia character and logo, on digital billboard outside Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre, proudly boasts, this latest run marks the fiftieth anniversary of the camp, formerly cult, favourite. In appearance, bells and whistles, it’s practically the exact same glitzy, colourful trip wheeled out for the fortieth, too, but that’s no bad thing. Hugh Durrant’s B-movie-meets-Christie set stylings, Nick Richings’ technicolor barrage of lighting and Sue Blane’s seminal costumes – we’ve been here before, but it’s devilishly good to be back.

A most loyal slav…servant!: Outside of perhaps OG ‘Frank n Furter’, Tim Curry, and O’Brien himself, no other performer has served the ‘Rocky Horror’ brand with as much flare and enduring gusto as Kristian Lavercombe (pictured above). Lavercombe boasts over 2,000 performances as the iconic ‘Riff Raff’, and has become a firm fan favourite (with good cause).
And it’s great to have some familiar faces along for the ride, too – Stephen Webb slips back into the suspenders with rich ease as the iconic ‘Frank n Furter’, with his full-bodied, handsomely-sung and admirably unique spin on the role once again a joy. Any Rocky Horror worth its smut needs a ‘Frank’ that commands the stage, and Webb does so with delicious relish – soaring vocals at the ready, figure-hugging corset strapped tight, ridiculously oversized whip in hand.
Elsewhere, veteran ‘Narrator’ Philip Franks – who played the role in that very same inaugural review of mine back in the halcyon days of 2012 – is clearly still having a ball and showing no signs of languishing. This time round, he had plenty of topical detours to toy around with (‘Suella the Musical’, anyone?), slotting in natural alongside the tried-and-tested, fan-favourite shoutouts and double entendres.
Perhaps most inseparable of all, Kristian ‘Riff Raff’ Lavercombe pulls off the genuinely quite breathtaking feat of still serving up a sizzling, giddily energised tour-de-force as Frank n Furter’s right-hand man, even after some two-thousand performances in the role. He is, in many ways, the show’s MVP – good luck finding a performer with such an indelible stamp on a character, whilst still knocking it out of the park, still finding new wrinkles and beats and still serving up a turn that crackles with the freshness of the first flushes of previews, never mind over a decade on.

A most loyal slav…servant!: Outside of perhaps OG ‘Frank n Furter’, Tim Curry, and O’Brien himself, no other performer has served the ‘Rocky Horror’ brand with as much flare and enduring gusto as Kristian Lavercombe (pictured above). Lavercombe boasts over 2,000 performances as the iconic ‘Riff Raff’, and has become a firm fan favourite (with good cause).
Nipping at his heels though, are probably the most uniformly-excellent Rocky cast that this particular reviewer has had the pleasure of shouting ‘c*ck’ at …and there have been many. Richard Meek (another returnee) seems perfectly plucked from the era as a stroppy, boyish Brad with a tender, soulful voice, whilst stage veteran Haley Flaherty struts, slinks and shimmies back into the show with a masterclass Janet – comfortably the best reviewed to date (again, this is no small praise – she’s in some fine company).
“…the irresistible, hilarious, unabashedly camp and infectiously naughty Rocky Horror with its sonic oscillator dialled all the way up to ‘perfection’”
Darcy Finden’s Columbia? Exquisite. Ben Westhead’s Rocky? Fabulous (and certainly passes the Charles Atlas test). Joe Allen’s Eddie-Dr Scott duality? My favourite to date. Suzie McAdams, also on dual duty, as both Usherette and Magenta? Lavercombe-levels of definitive and excellent.
If you notice a pattern emerging, it’s no science fiction, nor have I been seduced by an errant transducer.
This is, quite simply, the irresistible, hilarious, unabashedly camp and infectiously naughty Rocky Horror with its sonic oscillator dialled all the way up to ‘perfection’.
Sure, if you trawl wide and far enough, you’ll likely find some commentators taking pot shots at its representation of transvestism. Others, still, will probably pluck at a thread and find themselves arriving somewhere in the ballpark of perceived transphobia, but again, it feels very much like ‘square peg, round hole’ kind of revisionism.
In truth, for what is now five proud decades, Rocky Horror has championed and celebrated diversity and expression. It has sung from the hymn book of sex positivity, of gender fluidity, and of not just dreaming it, but being it. All whilst going nowhere near a soapbox, and staying effortlessly entertaining throughout.
Heck, in terms of staying power alone, and indeed one that commands even more fervent fan engagement, dressing up and love than ever before, it demands respect.
But strip away all of the socio-cultural framing, and even just as an evening of sinfully good musical theatre, this is Rocky Horror at the top of its game. A raucous, laugh-out-loud night of non-stop earworms, toe-tapping gems and plenty of post-modern mischief, there may be many informed by its influence, there may be some who consider themselves challengers to the throne (hint: they’re not), and even a merry band of naysayers to its cause, but the truth is quite simple…
There is only one Rocky Horror Show. And it’s still here; loud, proud and still captivating the crowd, performed this time round by across-the-board perfection.
Roll on the centenary.
It was great when it all began… and still is. Board the pretenders on the first ship to Transylvania, this is the one, the only, the original, performed to suspender-wearing, lipstick-smearing perfection.
why not give us a follow on instagram?
It’s 5 (6, 7, 8…) stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from @kylebpedley for @thestepsmusical!
Head on over to the TWE site (link in bio) to read Kyle’s full review of this ‘relentlessly entertaining slice of new jukebox fabulousness’, which runs at @thealexbham until 30th November, ahead of its recently-announced UK tour which commences September 2025! 💓🤠✨🛒🎭
#hereandnow #hereandnowtour #musical #steps #stepsmusical #review #thestepsmusical #birmingham #thealexandra #thealex #midlands #whatson #twe #thingsweenjoy
Nov 20

TAKE FIVE (…six, seven, eight) with @thestepsmusical! 🪩🛒🕺🏽💓
‘Here & Now’ is officially OPEN at @thealexbham, and in the run-up to this STOMPing World Premiere, we bootscoot’d down to the rehearsal room, where @kylebpedley got to ‘take five’ with the show’s fabulous leading ladies, @beingbeckylock & @supashar.
Watch now as the trio chat all things musical theatre, things we’ve enjoyed, the bostin’ City of Birmingham and, of course, STEPS themselves! ✨
‘Here & Now’ runs at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham until Saturday 30th November - get your tickets now! 🎭🎟️
And keep an eye out for our full, official review of the show after its glittering gala opening night next week! 🤩
#steps #stepsmusical #thestepsmusical #hereandnow #theatre #musical #musicaltheatre #rebeccalock #sharlenehector #birmingham #whatson #thealexandra #alexandratheatre #sayyoullbemine #twe #thingsweenjoy
Nov 11

“Delightful, unapologetic cabaret goodness with an extra sheen of malevolence” - we had a wicked-ly good time catching the @oldjointstock theatre’s ’I Screamed A Scream’ this week! 😈🎃
Head on over to the TWE site (link in bio) for the full review of this ‘deliciously entertaining’ celebration of the best villains, rogues and rascals of stage and screen.
It truly does feel so good to be bad! 😈
#IScreamedAScream #Cabaret #Villains #Halloween #Disney #OldJointStock #Theatre #Review #TWE #ThingsWeEnjoy
Nov 3

“A moving, pensive story and beautifully crafted production both…” featuring “what should be a star-making central turn” from Ryan Kopel - it’s a glowing five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for the ‘beautiful melancholy’ of @DEHWestEnd at @thealexbham from @KyleBPedley! 💙
Head on over to the TWE site (link in bio) to read Kyle’s full review of the show; which runs at the Alex until Sat 26th October, before continuing its UK Tour.
#DEHWestEnd #DearEvanHansen #UKTour #EvanHansenTour #Review #Birmingham #TheAlexandra #Theatre #Musical #TWE #ThingsWeEnjoy #Review #RyanKopel #WavingThroughAWindow
Oct 23

Mangetout, mangetout! It’s a lovely jubbly four stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for @ofahmusical at @wolvesgrand!
Head on over to the TWE site to read @kylebpedley’s full review of what he calls a ‘legitimately funny recapture of a classic’.
‘Only Fools and Horses the Musical’ runs at the Grand until Sat 26th October 2024, before continuing its UK Tour.
#onlyfoolsandhorses #musical #wolverhampton #review #ofah #ofahmusical #uktour #comedy #funny #whatson #twe #thingsweenjoy
Oct 22

It’s 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars from @kylebpedley for ‘Becoming Nancy’ at @therepbirmingham!
Head on over to the TWE site (link in bio) to read Kyle’s full review of this ‘fun, feel-good musical’ which boasts ‘a winning cast’ and a soundtrack ‘positively stuffed with catchy, jaunty earworms’.
‘Becoming Nancy’ runs at the Birmingham Rep until Sat 2nd Nov 2024.
#BecomingNancy #JerryMitchell #TerryRonald #Birmingham #BirminghamRep #New #Musical #MusicalTheatre #Review #TWE #ThingsWeEnjoy #October #LGBT #LGBTQ #Pride #FullOut
Oct 20

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