The Rocky Horror Show – Review – Hull New Theatre
By Roger Crow, July 2025
Two years after I last saw Richard O’Brien’s classic musical, The Rocky Horror Show is back at Hull New Theatre, and on an overcast Monday night, I did wonder whether it would work its magic yet again.
Until 2019, I’d never seen the stage show, which was remarkable considering I’d watched the film on a loop back in the day. Said film is now 50 years old, which doesn’t seem possible. “It’s astounding. Time is fleeting,” has never seemed more relevant.
It’s probably a dozen years since I had a chat with co-star Christopher Biggins about the movie, who told me the Transylvanians got £100 a week, were stoned for most of the shoot and had a brilliant time, though when the movie premiered it was a flop. But when it took off at midnight screenings across the Pond (as seen in Alan Parker’s movie Fame), the show and film took on a new lease of life.
And the energy levels in Hull are through the roof on opening night. A great effort by many members of the audience who have turned out in fishnets, high heels, capes, corsets… and many of the women looks great too.
When things kick off with Natasha Hoeberigs’ Usherette belting out ‘Science Fiction Double Feature’, and the classic line, ‘Michael Rennie was ill The Day the Earth Stood Still’, it’s like everyone is suddenly in their comfort zone. Well, most people. I did wonder what newcomers who had no idea what the show was about made of what unfolds over the next couple of hours. Not that I believe it lasts that long. The first act flies by as our beloved couple *Brad (Alex Hetherington, standing in for regular Connor Carson) and Janet (Lauren Chia) debut while audience members shout out the obligatory insults and alternate lines.
*Brad did remind me of Rick Moranis in his Little Shop of Horrors era, but with a far better voice.
“Jam-packed with classics”
Our narrator this time is Nathan Caton, who many will remember from much-missed show Mock the Week. His comebacks are beautifully topical, and bitingly savage. A perfect fit for the show.
So we whip through ‘Dammit Janet’, minus the presence of the American Gothic-inspired support act, as featured in the film. I blink, and we’re half-way through ‘There’s a Light (Over at The Frankenstein Place)’, and then, as our couple arrive at that gothic pile, THAT song kicks in. The audience are up, and the ‘Time Warp’ envelops us all in a wave of nostalgic bliss. It’s a glorious experience as it always is, and the whole of the first half is so jam-packed with classics, it’s just a case of holding on and screaming if you want to go faster.
When Frank N Furter (Adam Strong) arrives, with the immortal ‘Sweet Transvestite’, our cross-dressing antagonist from the planet Transsexual, is part Tim Curry in the OG stage show and film, and part Kat Slater in EastEnders. The crowd goes wild, and after all that ‘antici…..pation,’ little wonder.
Brad and Janet are soon down to their “charming underclothes” and we’re in the lab being introduced to Rocky (Morgan Jackson), who looks phenomenal. Yes, the eponymous creation is supposed to look good, but blimey. There’s ripped and then there’s RIPPED.
“Gloriously immersive”
When Eddie (Edward Bullingham) erupts onto the lab set, and bursts into the classic ‘Hot Patootie’, bless my soul, the number seems to be over in a few seconds. Probably because the movie, with Meat Loaf in that role, was a fabulous set piece involving a motorcycle, and here there’s no chance of it outstaying its welcome.
After the interval, the more melancholy second act gives us a chance to catch our breath. If act one is all about birth, then act two is death, and it’s here we’re really get a chance to savour the beautiful set, amazing lighting and that live band, who do an outstanding job throughout.
As Riff Raff (Job Greuter) and Magenta (Natasha Hoeberigs) reveal their true identities and the inevitable tragedies occur, when light and smoke gives the illusion of the castle returning to its home planet, it’s a gloriously immersive experience.
Any fears I had of the show feeling dated or out of place after more than 50 years were thankfully unfounded. The Rocky Horror Show is more relevant and enjoyable than ever. And yes, I’ll be back when the whole fabulous, sexy, outrageous foot-tapping assault on the senses returns.
For this run? Four words of advice. Don’t dream it. See it.
‘The Rocky Horror Show’ is at Hull New Theatre until 19th July
Adopted Yorkshireman Roger Crow developed a passion for film and TV in the 1970s and 1980s. He has been a published film and TV reviewer since the 1990s; a world travel and restaurant critic since the noughties, and for the past decade has assessed the pros and cons of live gigs and theatre productions around the UK. His ideal day would involve reviewing a performance of Bat Out of Hell, followed by a Pad Thai while being serenaded by Texas on a cruise around Europe.
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