REVIEW: The Rocky Horror Show at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre

The Rocky Horror Show has returned for another UK Tour as it approaches in 50th birthday in 2023, starting in Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre. This extraordinary show which began at the Royal Court Theatre in June 1973 and became a movie that has defined cult status in 1975, has a dedicated and loyal following who have now become part of the show. Indeed, it is the audiences and their interaction with the cast that make this a unique experience and as many productions seek to add immersive elements to their production, Rocky Horror leads the way with the audiences’ reactions and shout out now built into the script. There are two very good reasons to return to see this production as many returning casts are led by a perfectly cast Philip Franks as the narrator and the very likeable Ore Oduba as Brad.

Philip Franks, now perhaps better known as a very good director is a brilliant narrator, a master of the comic pauses and reaction to the audience call-outs, he brings a freshness to the familiar script with his updated references to the last eighteen months. His delivery is perfectly judged and very well-timed and at every entrance, the audience prepares to respond. Oduba who has become a familiar and popular face since his Strictly Come Dancing win in 2016 gets a chance to show his comic talents too as the innocent and hapless hero Brad who stumbles into Frank N Furter’s castle.

COMING HOME: Callum Evans, soon to head out on tour with The Rocky Horror Show

Pocket Size Theatre and Liza Heinrichs (Captured by Liz) have teamed up again and created our new series 'Coming Home'. In this new piece, we look at the reopening of Theatres in London and around the country and celebrate our industry coming back. We got together some performers who will be some of the first to return to theatres and created this piece to bring some positivity to the theatre industry which has been through one of the toughest years in our lifetime. Whilst it is important to acknowledge the hardships we've all gone through, it's important we pull together as a community and celebrate our beloved industry finally coming back! 

Before theatres closed their doors in March 2020, Callum Evans was eagerly awaiting to start another performing job. He was due to open in the international touring production of Cats, with an opening night that would have been in May 2020, almost exactly a year before our shoot day. But it's not all sad: it has recently been announced that Callum will play the role of Rocky in the touring production of The Rocky Horror Show, a role he is very familiar with, having played the part back in 2019. Our shoot with Callum took place at the Harold Pinter Theatre, formerly known as the Comedy Theatre. This was one of the many London homes of The Rocky Horror Show. 

As well as having done The Rocky Horror Show previously, he played Troppo and covered Nigel in Salad Days on tour, he has also played Eugene in the UK tour of Grease, was in the revival of Chess at the London Coliseum, played Sportacus in Lazytown Live, was in Miss Saigon at the Prince Edward Theatre and appeared in Cool Rider at the Lyric Theatre. As well as a successful career in theatre, he is also a hugely accomplished acrobatic gymnast, having won the Welsh championship and coming 2nd in the British Acrobatic Gymnastic Championships, as well as competing in the international arena.

COMING HOME: Richard Meek, opening in the UK tour of Hairspray

Pocket Size Theatre and Liza Heinrichs (Captured by Liz) have teamed up again and created our new series 'Coming Home'. In this new piece, we look at the reopening of Theatres in London and around the country and celebrate our industry coming back. We got together some performers who will be some of the first to return to theatres and created this piece to bring some positivity to the theatre industry which has been through one of the toughest years in our lifetime. Whilst it is important to acknowledge the hardships we've all gone through, it's important we pull together as a community and celebrate our beloved industry finally coming back! 

We meet Richard fresh from the cast announcement of the UK tour of Hairspray, in which he will be playing the role of Corny Collins, a role and show he says is one of his dream jobs. We met Richard at the Playhouse Theatre, a place he is pretty familiar with! He appeared in The Rocky Horror show playing Eddie/Dr. Scott at the Playhouse, he later went on tour with the show in the same roles before taking over the role of Brad Majors, a role he had played previously. 

With a CV almost as long as my arm, Richard has had a really wonderful career. He’s appeared as Rooster in the UK Tour of Annie, as Trevor Graydon in the UK Tour of Thoroughly Modern Millie, starred as Leo Bloom in the international production of The Producers, played Sir Galahad in the UK Tour of Spamalot, played Dustin and covered Greaseball in the Bochum production of Starlight Express and has played the title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, to name but a few of his many credits! 

REVIEW: The Rocky Horror Show at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking

Richard O’Brien’s “The Rocky Horror Show” is undoubtedly the world’s favourite rock ‘n’ roll musical, having catapulted into the hall of fame since its first appearance at The Royal Court Theatre in June 1973. It has been performed worldwide on every continent (yes, really) and has been translated into more than 20 languages. Needless to say, the show’s big-screen adaptation “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Richard O’Brien, is one of the most iconic movie-musicals of all time.

This production marks the new World Tour for this legendary piece with Dom Joly as The Narrator, Joanne Clifton as Janet Weiss and Ben Adams as Brad Majors. I was most excited to see Kristian Lavercombe as Riff Raff as he fast approaches his 1500th performance in the role. What a legend. 

In the velvet darkness…. Newly engaged sweethearts Brad and Janet are struck down with an unfortunate blown tyre and find themselves stranded alongside the home of Dr Frank-N-Furter; a “sweet transvestite from transsexual Transylvania”. In a sequin filled dystopian paradise of sexuality and expression, the preened pair discover they may not be all they thought. With classic numbers such as “The Time Warp”, “Touch-a Touch-a Touch-a Touch Me” and “Hot Patootie”, this show will leave you dancing in the aisles and reaffirmed with a joy for life.