Rocky Horror Creator to Join Cast as Narrator in Adelaide
Producers Howard Panter and John Frost gleefully announced today (February 18, 2014) that the creator of The Rocky Horror Show, Richard O’Brien, would join the current Australian production to play the Narrator for the Adelaide season only. The 2014 Australian tour of The Rocky Horror Show is proving to be a phenomenal success with the Brisbane season selling out, and the Perth season kicking off last weekend.
Richard O’Brien, who wrote the much loved rock and roll musical and played Riff Raff in film adaptation, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, has occasionally played roles in the show elsewhere but has never performed in Australia. O’Brien attended the Opening Night of this 40thAnniversary tour in Brisbane, and said this production is “very, very special. I am deeply moved.”
O’Brien will play the Narrator at the Festival Theatre, Adelaide from March 20, alongside Craig McLachlan in the coveted role of Frank N Furter, Christie Whelan Browne as Janet, Tim Maddren as Brad, Kristian Lavercombe as Riff Raff, Erika Heynatz as Magenta,Ashlea Pyke as Columbia, Nicholas Christo as Eddie and Dr Scott, and Brendan Irving as Rocky. Completing the cast are Vincent Hooper, Luigi Lucente, James Maxfield,Meghan O’Shea andAngela Scundi.
“We are thrilled that Richard O’Brien has agreed to play the Narrator in Adelaide. To have the creator of this iconic musical join the 40thAnniversary production for this limited time is a dream come true, and I’m sure Rocky Horror fans will flock to Adelaide to see this once in a lifetime opportunity,” said producers Howard Panter and John Frost. “We thought audiences would love to do the Time Warp again with our terrific cast, and with ticket sales going through the roof in every city, we’ve been proved right. And now with Richard in the cast as well, audiences better be prepared to give themselves over to absolute pleasure. Make sure you buy a ticket before it’s sold out, and before madness takes its toll.”
The Rocky Horror Show opened at London’s Royal Court Theatre on June 19, 1973, quickly developing a cult following, and was adapted into the 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which has the longest-running release in film history. This iconic brand holds a unique place in theatre history, a show which has defied the decades and continued to grow in popularity. In 2010 the music of Rocky Horror was showcased in the smash hit TV show Glee, seen by over 20 million people worldwide. Rocky Horror even has its own postage stamp.
Millions of people all over the world have and continue to see productions of The Rocky Horror Show and sung along to classics like Sweet Transvestite, Dammit Janet, I Can Make You A Man, Touch-a Touch-a Touch Me, Over At The Frankenstein Place and of course The Time Warp.
Images: Craig McLachlan, Richard O'Brien and Brendan Irving. Photographer: Shane O'Connor
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