John Frost confirms Rocky Horror’s return to Oz
Following the success of Legally Blonde in Australia, producers John Frost (of Gordon Frost Organisation) and Howard Panter (of Ambassador Theatre Group) are teaming up again to bring the cult classic the Rocky Horror Show to our shores.
Since it opened on the West End in 1973, the Rocky Horror Show has taken on a life of its own, and audiences expect the unexpected when they walk in to the ‘Frankenstein Place’ for a taste of Richard O’Brien’s masterpiece. It is apt, then, that this production is not taking the usual Australian musical tour route, with the obligatory battle between Melbourne and Sydney for the ‘premiere’.
Quite the opposite, in fact.
This new 40th anniversary production, which is currently playing to sold out houses in the United Kingdom, will open on New Year’s Eve 2013 at QPAC, Brisbane with an all-Australian cast. Seasons will follow at Crown Theatre, Perth from February and at the Adelaide Festival Centre from March, giving these often neglected cities a the chance to see Brad, Janet, Rocky, Magenta, Columbia and Riff Raff on stage for the first time in 15 years.
Brisbane has been garnering much attention of late, with Hot Shoe Shuffle opening at QPAC ahead of other cities, and GFO’s production of Grease set to begin its national tour on Queensland soil also. No mention of Sydney or Melbourne seasons has been made at this stage.
“It’s time to dust off the fishnets and do the Time Warp again,” producers John Frost and Howard Panter said in a statement.
“Following our successful collaboration on Legally Blonde, we wondered what should be the next musical we produce together in Australia. People are always talking about the Rocky Horror Show, and wanting to see it again.
Audiences sure know most of the words to this musical, and we know you’ve done the Time Warp moves at least once in your life. So fish out the fishnets, sharpen your stilettos and prepare for a rocky ride!
Tickets on sale on Monday July 1. Wait list available at rockyhorrormusical.com.au
