The Rocky Horror Show, the beloved rock ‘n’ roll musical, is marking its 50th anniversary with a global tour that commenced in Sydney, Australia. The show received tremendous critical acclaim and played to sold-out audiences, setting the stage for a worldwide celebration.
An all-star Australian cast headlines the 50th Anniversary Production, with Jason Donovan portraying Frank N Furter, Myf Warhurst as The Narrator, Stellar Perry as Magenta, Ellis Dolan as Eddie/Dr. Scott, Darcey Eagle as Columbia, Ethan Jones as Brad, Deirdre Khoo as Janet, Loredo Malcolm as Rocky, and Henry Rollo as Riff Raff. David Bedella, a three-time Olivier Award winner, portrays Frank N Furter in Adelaide, Gold Coast, Perth, Canberra, and the final three weeks in Melbourne, and acclaimed actor and writer Nicholas Hammond plays The Narrator in Perth and Canberra. Josh Gates, Catty Hamilton, Jackson Reedman, and Erica Wild serve as The Phantoms, and Keane Fletcher and Kristina McNamara as the Swings.
Since its creation by Richard O’Brien in 1973, The Rocky Horror Show has become one of the world’s favorite musicals. It is the sole contemporary rock musical to celebrate 50 years on stage. The show has been continuously performed somewhere globally since its London premiere and has cemented its place in history as one of the classics of musical theatre. The show was transformed into a film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, in 1975, which took over $135 million at the box office and is still shown in cinemas worldwide. Many stars of stage and screen, including Russell Crowe, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Meat Loaf, Jerry Springer, Adam Lambert, Emma Bunton, Stephen Fry, Reg Livermore, Bert Newton, Gretel Killeen, Derryn Hinch, and Shane Jacobsen, have appeared in The Rocky Horror Show over the last 50 years.
The Rocky Horror Show has been seen by over 30 million people in more than 30 countries and translated into 20 languages. Audiences have embraced the show’s unique and playful musical with enthusiasm and passion, reveling in the indulgence of their senses. The show features one of the most iconic musical numbers of all time, “The Time Warp,” which continues to be a vital component of its continued success over the past 50 years.
The 50th Anniversary Rocky Horror Show creative team includes Director Christopher Luscombe, Set Designer Hugh Durrant, Costume Designer Sue Blane, Choreographer Nathan M Wright, Lighting Designer Nick Richings, and Music Richard Hartley (original musical arrangements).
In 2023, The Rocky Horror Show will continue its global tour, bringing the most audacious party bash of them all to audiences across Australia. Whether it’s your first or twenty-first time seeing the show, the production promises to deliver on its pledge of a guaranteed party. The Rocky Horror Show is a celebration of fun, frivolity, and outrageous outfits, bursting with timeless songs. It is an adventure audiences will never forget.
The Adelaide Festival Theatre’s limited season concluded on May 13, and will be followed by Melbourne’s Atheneum Theatre from May 18 to July 30, Crown Theatre Perth from August 6, The Star on Queensland’s Gold Coast from September 3, and Canberra Theatre Centre from September 29.
Tickets for the production can be found on the official website.
