Review: RICHARD O’BRIEN’S ROCKY HORROR SHOW, UK tour - Opera House Manchester

Photo credit: David Freeman

If you’ve never seen the Rocky Horror Show …. Where have you been for the last 45 years?!

Richard O’Brien’s cult classic is touring once again.  It follows sweethearts Brad and Janet as their car breaks down in a storm one night.  In search of a telephone, they discover an eerie mansion and Dr. Frank-N-Furter, along with a household of wild characters including Eddie (a rocking biker), Riff Raff (a creepy butler), Magenta (the maid), Columbia (a groupie) and Frank-N-Furter’s latest creation muscle man, Rocky. 

As always, the audience are on point with their array of costumes and shout outs.  

Philip Franks as Narrator bats them back with ease and gives some uproarious and current ad libs, including ‘Free Britney’ and various Matt Hancock references.

Stephen Webb excels as Frank-N-Furter, playing in a similar style to the original Tim Curry whilst very much making it his own character.

This production is very much a team piece. The casting (by Stuart Burt) is flawless, with each performer playing to their own strengths.

Joe Allen as Eddie/Dr. Scott is one of the best we’ve seen, using the vigour of Eddie and solemnity of the Professor to its capacity.  

Suzie McAdam as Usherette/Magenta has a wonderful use of expression, reacting creatively whenever appropriate.

Ore Oduba plays a loveable Brad and it’s rewarding to be able to see him bring a freshness to the role, and show off his incredible vocals.

Lauren Ingram, having risen through the ranks from a Phantom in previous tours to understudying Janet, is now in the role of Columbia.  She is particularly wacky in her taunting of Frank-N-Furter as we are led into the Floor Show, the audience whooping with laughter and applause at her performance.

Finally, a special and very well-deserved mention to Danny Knott who went on in the role of Riff Raff.   Replacing the production’s resident actor, Kristian Lavercombe (who has played the role over 1600 times worldwide), must have been daunting, but Knott steps up to the task incredibly, having some wonderfully funny moments and making the role unique.

This production ticks all the right boxes.  Not just in the performances of its cast, but also with its costume design (by Sue Blane who also created the original film costumes) and its lighting and sound (Nick Richings and Gareth Owen respectively) alongside its live band (led by Greg Arrowsmith), it’s hard to find any fault.

It’s light hearted, double entendre and sing-a-long rock tunes make it the perfect night out whether you are seeing it for the first time or the hundredth!

Sexy, funny and the gift that keeps on giving!

***** Five Stars.

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show is on tour across the UK and Europe until October 2022. To book for select venues, please click here.