The Rocky Horror Show
Hot Horrors
The Rocky Horror Show
by Richard O’Brien
Trafalgar Theatre Productions at the New Wimbledon Theatre until 5th July, then on tour until 13th June 2026
Review by Thea Diamond
The streets of Wimbledon are bustling with summer excitement, not only being at the peak of the heat wave, but also with the opening week a certain world-famous tennis tournament. To add to the party atmosphere, it’s Wimbledon’s turn to host the Rocky Horror Show, coinciding with the end of Pride month. This musical holds a huge part in queer history, having debuted just six years after homosexuality was decriminalised in England and Wales.
Its now familiar yet hugely bold and bonkers story starts with two recently engaged 1950’s squeaky clean college kids, Brad and Janet, who are on their way to meet with their high school science teacher, wheel-chair bound Dr Scott (Edward Bullingham). They get a flat tyre and are stranded in the middle of nowhere on a dark and stormy night, and this is where the subversive chaos intensifies.
Despite understudy Stacey Monahan stepping in, she does an excellent job as the innocent Janet, paired with the equally naive Brad, played by Connor Carson. They go for help and find a spooky gothic mansion, inhabited by Dr Frank’n’Furter and his minions Magenta (Natasha Hoeberigs) and the suitably hunched Riff Raff (Job Greuter). The set cleverly transforms between the imposing haunted house’s hallway, to the futuristic science lab, effortlessly combining popular B-movie horror and science fiction tropes of the time.
We later learn that these inhabitants are actually aliens hailing from the planet Transsexual in the Galaxy of Transylvania, and the mad scientist Frank has created his ideal sexual playmate in Rocky (Morgan Jackson) by using parts of his ex lover Eddie’s (Edward Bullingham) brain. Frank shows no limits or awareness of 21st Century issues of consent, as he unceremoniously provides Brad and Janet with a monumental sexual awakening, and removes their innocence whilst unapologetically discarding another one of his sexual playthings Columbia (Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli).
1980’s heart throb Jason Donovan, who first starred as Frank twenty-five years ago, receives huge cheers as he enters the stage on cue for the iconic anthem Sweet Transvestite. He’s engulfed in an oversized black cloak which rather swamps his physique. The audience clearly love Donovan as he showcases his impressive energy and vocal talents throughout the show, being particularly evident in his emotional rendition of I’m Going Home. He puts his own idiosyncratic stamp on the character by emphasising the eccentric and unhinged side of Frank, at times staggering in a rather Jack Sparrow like manner around the stage which made me feel concerned that the heels were a tad too unstable for him. This contrasts with the more traditional portrayal based on Tim Curry’s rendition, where Frank strides sexually and forcefully, in a rather intimidating manner.
Stand-up comedian Nathan Caton puts his memorable stamp on the part of the narrator and brings some of his own material to provide witty comments about current affairs as well as hilarious yet risqué retorts to the audience’s interjections. This is only topped by his banter with the un-named BSL interpreter who deserves a shout-out for his extremely creative signing of certain sexual terminology.
For those who are as yet uninitiated into the world of the Rocky Horror Show, the audience are part of the spectacle. They come prepared, not only dressed up to cosplay their favourite characters but with props for some of the songs, as well as standard interjections to heckle the cast throughout the story. The crowd at Wimbledon were no exception, and braved temperatures soaring unbearably at over thirty degrees, to dress as Frank, Eddie, Columbia and the rest of the gang. Put your inhibitions aside, and don’t dream it, be it!
Thea Diamond, July 2025
Photography by Daniel Boud and David Freeman
Mark Aspen 