As a Rocky Horror Show virgin, I immediately felt overdressed. I had heard that when watches the stage show and even the movie, you must dress up, you must make a night of it, you must shout at the actors from the audience with the risqué comebacks that everyone has either memorised or tattooed on their chest. I had no such ink and my fishnets were still fictional so when I saw at least 10 people dressed as Dr Frank N Furter I thought perhaps I’m being a massive stick in the mud in this huge tradition. Thankfully this was not the case as this was still one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had in a theatre. Oh I was doing the time-warp, I was waving my arms side to side and I was pretending I knew what the audience were shouting out all the time (they’re not trained actors you can’t blame them for their articulation).

Now I must say, I didn’t really know what on earth was going on for most of it, I’m sure this would absolutely kill on a repeat viewing, and I’m sure even watching the film would have given me a better idea on how to totally sum up the experience but as I’ve mentioned “Oh reviewer’s name no! You can’t watch the film, your corset is not even something you knew you had to have today so, sorry bucko no Tim Curry for you!” As far as I can gather, there’s a couple whose car breaks down, they go to scary castle for help, scary characters are there, they’re making people and they’re aliens from checks notes Planet Transylvania. I do not think for one second though that not knowing what was happening in any way detracted from my theatre going experience, Jason Donovan (Frank N Furter), Mawaan Rizwaan (Narrator) and the rest of the cast were so funny, so talented and most importantly so committed to the show that I honestly think if you had a bad time watching this show then you should retire (I don’t care that you’re 31, go to an old fogey’s home you old fogey).

If I could now speak as if I’m a lifelong fan of the show: “Oh my god! Richard O’Brien came on stage at the end and sang There is a Light! What a truly magical experience! The man responsible for bringing me all this joy and creating a safe space for me to become comfortable with my identity was breathing the same air as me and we were singing the same words at the same time, I will never forget this ever ever ever!” I do wish wholeheartedly that I could share in this sentiment but I hate to say it that I had to ask who he was to my theatre going chum before I could truly try and imagine the power of this moment. Which is why I make this pledge here today in this review that I shall now watch the film (after making the corset and fishnets non fiction), and download the soundtrack and get the poster that I’ve always seen around in people’s rooms etc. and I shall make myself worthy of the joy I experienced in the Dominion Theatre’s dominion.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️