What inspired Ben Adams to participate in The Rocky Horror Show?

Ben Adams was inspired to participate in The Rocky Horror Show after seeing it four years ago. He loved it so much that it inspired him to write his own musical, Eugenius!. When he was asked to join the show, he couldn't turn it down.

What are some of Ben Adams's favorite musicals?

Ben Adams's favorite musicals include his own musical Eugenius!, as well as Rocky Horror, Phantom of the Opera, and Les Misérables.

How did Ben Adams first experience The Rocky Horror Show?

Ben Adams first experienced The Rocky Horror Show in Wimbledon a few years ago when a friend had a spare ticket. Despite not dressing up, he loved the show and has been a fan ever since.

What other projects has Ben Adams worked?

Ben Adams has been active in both the music and theatre scenes. He toured with Flashdance, recorded a version of 'Damn it, Janet' with Joanne Clifton, and worked on writing their own musical, Bloody Nora. He is also currently on the 20th anniversary tour with a1 and working on a new studio album.

How does Ben Adams feel about touring?

Ben Adams enjoys touring but misses home, especially his dog and his own bed. Despite the demanding schedule, he appreciates the opportunity to perform and experience different roles.

What would Ben Adams tell his younger self if he could Time Warp?

If Ben Adams could Time Warp, he would go back to when he was with a1 the first time around and tell himself to enjoy the experience more. He feels that he was so busy that he forgot to appreciate the moments.

An Interview with Actor, Ben Adams

Q: What role did Ben Adams play in The Rocky Horror Show?

Ben Adams played the role of Brad, a straight-laced young man who discovers a new side to his sexuality in Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show.

Arts Interviews

By On: Yorkshire Magazine

13/02/2019

2200

By Kirsty Reid

Best known as the lead singer of pop group a1, songwriter and music producer Ben Adams dons fishnets and a corset in his latest musical venture. Teaming up with Flashdance co-star Joanne Clifton, Ben takes on the role of Brad, a straight-laced young man who discovers a new side to his sexuality, in Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show.

Since its first appearance at the Royal Court Theatre in 1973 theatregoers have lusted after the show’s camp combination of glorious hits and cheeky comedy. But a musical about a cross-dressing alien scientist isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

“Yeah, I think it was very radical back in its day,” Ben says. “But it still has a lot of relevance now because it is essentially a show about being whoever you want to be and being allowed to be who you want to be. I think what’s so nice about Rocky Horror is that it creates a safe space for people to let their hair down.

“I actually saw it four years ago and I loved it so much. It just gave me such an amazing feeling. It was one of the shows that inspired me to write my own musical called Eugenius! So it’s quite an important piece of theatre for me. When I was asked if I’d like to do it, I said ‘of course, I can’t turn down Rocky Horror’.”

Ben (left) with Rocky Horror creator Richard O’Brien, plus co-stars Joanne Clifton and Stephen Webb

“I didn’t dress up”

Ben’s critically acclaimed musical Eugenius! received five-star rave reviews across the board and sold out at London Palladium. A big fan of musicals, Ben admits that his own show is very much his favourite to date.

“I’d have to say my own musicial, Eugenius! [is my favourite], but I love ‘Rocky’, Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables. I’ve seen some really good stuff over the years. And some pretty bad stuff as well. But I quite like bad musicals.”

Though now a huge fan of O’Brien’s cult classic, Ben admits it was his stepdad’s love of the show that discouraged him from seeing it sooner. Among a sea of sequins and stilettos, Ben lost his Rocky virginity in Wimbledon a few years ago and has been in love with the show ever since.

Ben on stage as Brad
image: David Freeman

“A friend of mine had a spare ticket and I knew nothing about it with never seeing the film. I knew my stepdad really liked it when I was growing up but things that your parents like you tend to just think, ‘I’m not going to watch that, it’ll be rubbish’. I didn’t dress up but I was probably in the minority. We’ve been doing the show for a few months now and I think that the people who don’t dress up are the ones who look odd.”

“I swore I wasn’t going to do another tour”

While Ben is still very much active on the music scene he has dedicated much of his time to theatre over the past few years. After spending 16 months touring in Flashdance with Joanne Clifton, the pair recorded a version of Rocky favourite ‘Damn it, Janet’, and began writing their own musical, Bloody Nora.

“We’ve been touring quite a lot. I’ve gone from being at home all the time to touring with a1 and doing my own stuff. I never thought I’d want to do touring, then Flashdance came along and I had six months before Eugenuis! began so I thought I may as well go do the show and see what it was like. I enjoyed it so much that I extended the contract for six more months. Then I went straight off with a1 to do an Asia tour and then I was offered Rocky Horror so I went straight into this.

“I’ve literally been on the road for the best part of two years. I swore I wasn’t going to do another tour for a while but then Rocky Horror came along. I thought I can’t turn that down, it’s one of my favourite shows. So, here I am, back on tour!”

No stranger to life on the road, Ben has lived out of a suitcase most of his life. At just 16, he became the lead singer of a1, who racked up 10 million record sales, two UK number ones, five studio albums and toured across the globe. But while he’s become accustomed to the touring lifestyle, he still misses home..

“[I miss] loads of things. My dog. I’m quite a homebird really. There is nothing quite like your own bed.”

ben adams interview rocky horror joanne clifton

Ben Adams (Brad), Joanne Clifton (Janet)
image and top: Rocky Horror Show

“I forgot to enjoy it”

In 2002, a1 took a break from the music scene. Reforming in 2010, the band are currently on their 20th anniversary tour and recording a new studio album.

“When we [a1] split up all those years ago, it wasn’t really a split up. It was an opportunity for us to do things on our own really. I’ve had my own solo album, I did a classical album which went to number one [in the iTunes charts]. I’ve done loads of things that, if I would’ve stayed with a1, I wouldn’t have been able to do. I quite like variation.”

“I’m flying out to Norway tomorrow morning at 5am to perform with a1, then I’m flying back to do Rocky Horror. You can’t do the same thing forever because it gets tedious really. We’re all really ambitious people and want to try out everything.”

As Ben takes to the stage to perform the pelvic-thrusting floorfiller, ‘Time Warp’, he tells where he’d Time Warp to, given the opportunity.

“I’d probably Time Warp myself back to when I was doing all the a1 stuff the first time around and tell myself to enjoy it. I think we were so busy I forgot to enjoy it. We sold 10 million albums, went all around the world. I didn’t take the time to appreciate it quite as much as I should’ve done.”