The Rocky Horror Show

The brainchild of Richard O’Brien was first created after he quit the musical 'Jesus Christ Superstar' when the producers asked him to tap-dance. O’Brien started with the rock-style songs and gradually wrote the story around them to create his own rock musical.

The Rocky Horror Show premiered on 19th June 1973 and ran for a month. The critics loved it and record producer Jonathan King signed the cast up to produce an album of the songs.

In 1974 the show moved to the Kings Road Theatre and stayed there until March 1979 when it then transferred to the heart of London’s theatre-land in The West End.

The story revolves around the newly engaged college sweethearts, Brad Majors and his fiancée Betty Munroe. On their way to visit former science teacher, Dr Everett Scott, their car breaks down so they go to a nearby castle in order to use the phone and call for a mechanic.

The door to the castle is answered by the butler, Riff Raff, who informs them that they have arrived on “a rather special night”. They are joined by his sister, the maid, Magenta. Our unsuspecting visitors are then introduced to ‘The Time Warp’ an addictive dance performed by various house-guests attending a party at the castle.

With the final notes of the Time Warp echoing around the room a lift descends from the floor above, bringing the extravagant and outrageous host of the party Frank N. Furter, who explains to them that he’s just a “Sweet transvestite, from Transsexual Transylvania”.

Brad and Janet are invited upstairs to the laboratory where Frank brings his latest creation to life, a muscle-bound Adonis called ‘Rocky’. The party is interrupted by the arrival of Eddie, the Hell’s Angel biker whose brain was used in Rocky, Frank is horrified to discover that Eddie is still alive, and kills him.
With the panic over Frank sends everyone off to their rooms for the night.

During the night their host disguises himself and seduces both Brad and Janet in their separate rooms. Frank’s ‘fun’ is brought to an end by the news that his new pet has escaped and is running around loose in the grounds of the castle. With everyone out looking for Rocky, Janet explores the castle and finds the terrified muscle-man in the laboratory. Janet is overcome with new emotions and seduces Frank’s creation.

The arrival of Dr Everett Scott to investigate exactly what happens at the Frank N. Furter residence is the final straw for Frank. He discovers that Eddie was Dr Scott’s nephew and had sent him a letter just before he was killed.

Frank traps all of his guests and prepares them for an elaborate and bizarre theatrical floor-show.

As the show reaches its finale, Riff Raff decides to take command and reveals that he is planning to beam the whole castle back to the planet of Transsexual. Frank tries to explain his behaviour but Riff Raff won’t listen and shoots him with his ray gun. Just before the whole castle takes off, Brad, Janet and Dr Scott escape into the night.

A bizarre musical story which attracts a bizarre and dedicated group of fans, of which I have to confess to be one. A true Rocky Horror Show fan, male or female, will wear high-heeled shoes, suspenders, basque or other outfits to a showing of the play, or a screening of the film version – The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It is also common to take various props including a water pistol, torch, lavatory paper, rice and a newspaper.

Over 30 years after its first performance, The Rocky Horror Show and The Rocky Horror Picture Show have been watched by millions of people all around the world, and is still as popular now as it has ever been. In the nightclubs you can find crowds of people hit the dance floor as the opening bars of the Time Warp begin to play and revellers prepare to do the Time Warp again.

So, if you’re ever feeling down and a bit sad just think of Frank N. Furter’s advice... “Don’t dream it..be it” and “Give yourself over to absolute pleasure”.