Time is Fleeting and Madness Takes Its Toll at Blackpool's Run of Rocky Horror!

The Rocky Horror Show is back this week at the Winter Gardens Opera House, and it’s as unmissable as ever!

Swathes of pleather-clad, die-hard fans in blood-red lipstick, glittery bowler hats and their mother’s pearls arrived at the Winter Gardens Opera House yesterday evening, and we loved every second of this show’s quirky homage to counterculture which continues to endure.

The show is an extravaganza of excess, with a haunted mansion, feather boas, a secret lab, fishnets, glitter and rock ‘n’ roll in this gender-bending, liberating delight, and we loved every second! The musical first hit the stage in June 1973 before becoming the cult classic movie we know and love. The stage is set by newly-engaged couple, Brad Majors and Janet Weiss, who have a breakdown in an isolated area on a stormy evening and must pay a call to the bizarre residence of alien Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

Brad and Janet, newly engaged, stumble across Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s abode during a rainstorm. Taking refuge in the castle, they're present for the doctor's unveiling of his newest creation, Rocky.

A spin on Frankenstein, glam rock culture and B-movie horror films, the show teaches people to open their minds, liberate themselves from societal judgement and find what feels good. Take lead reveller Frank-N-Furter on his own: he is an all-singing, all-vamping, pansexual transvestite from another planet. He is trying to create the perfect man for himself, a man conceived as the ultimate eye candy. 

Frank-N-Furter was played amazingly by Duncan James with strong Harvey Fierstein vibes, a gorgeous, gravelly voice and a totally new interpretation of this iconic character. "I'm Going Home" was a real musical highlight, where Duncan delivered the song thick with emotion and high on drama.

For first-timers, the show is full of audience interaction and actively encourages soft-shoeing in the aisles. Worry not about having the snappy retorts and props to hand, just sit back and enjoy the chaos unfolding. Put your trust in the Narrator to set the pace, played perfectly by Rocky Horror veteran Kristian Lavercombe, who has played several roles in the show - Frank, Brad and, most famously, Riff Raff. Last night he made his début as the Narrator, and it was such a treat to behold. Such campy cheek, marvellous!

We love it when productions feature an onstage orchestra, who performed beautifully, and this production by Christopher Luscombe has a sumptuous set and glorious costuming.

The show will always be an acquired taste, but we emphatically recommend seeing it at least once if you enjoy musical theatre. There are no experiences quite like it. Sinfully rude, decadent and uncompromising, this high energy party leaves no time to question what you're witnessing, and that’s the adventure of it all! So come on, let's do the time warp again! 

The Rocky Horror Show is on at the Winter Gardens Blackpool until Saturday 29 June. For more information and tickets, click here.