Rocky Horror for Canberra
The 50th Anniversary production of Rock ‘N’ Roll musical The Rocky Horror Show has added Canberra to its national tour. Playing at the Canberra Theatre Centre for a limited season from 29 September 2023, The Rocky Horror Show has been playing at Theatre Royal Sydney, and will play seasons in Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth.
Leading the cast as Frank N Furter is three-time Olivier Award winning performer, David Bedella (pictured above – credit A Shared Madness) who returns to Australia for the first time since recreating his starring role in Jerry Springer: The Opera at Sydney Opera House in 2009. Australian audiences may remember him as the lead in Oh, What A Night! where he performed alongside Marcia Hines and Gary Sweet. David comes to Canberra with an impressive resume from both Broadway and London’s West End having performed roles in Smokey Joe's Cafe, Jerry Springer the Opera, The Rocky Horror Show, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Producers, Chicago, In the Heights and most recently & Juliet. He can also be seen playing the President of the United States in Amazon Prime's third season of Jack Ryan.
The will includes Stellar Perry as Magenta, Ellis Dolan as Eddie/Dr Scott, Darcey Eagle as Columbia, Ethan Jones as Brad, Deirdre Khoo as Janet, Loredo Malcolm as Rocky and Henry Rollo as Riff Raff. Starring alongside them on stage as The Phantoms will be Josh Gates, Catty Hamilton, Jackson Reedman and Erica Wild. Keane Fletcher and Kristina McNamara round out the cast as the Swings.
David Bedella said, “I am thrilled to be returning to Australia after so many years and to return to a show that is forever linked to my heart! This 50th Anniversary production promises to be the best yet and I'm gonna do my part to see that it is! I hope everyone will come along to help us celebrate a show that has undeniably become the greatest cult sensation musical theatre has ever seen and has meant so much to so many for 50 years!”
Written and created by Richard O’Brien, The Rocky Horror Show is currently the only contemporary rock musical to celebrate 50 years on stage. Since it first opened in London in 1973 at the Royal Court's Theatre Upstairs, The Rocky Horror Show has been continuously on stage somewhere in the world and has paved its way into history as one of the classics of musical theatre.
The Rocky Horror Show first began life in 1973 before an audience of just 63 people in the Royal Court’s Theatre Upstairs. It was an immediate success and transferred to the Chelsea Classic Cinema, before going on to run at the Kings Road Theatre, 1973-79 and the Comedy Theatre in the West End, 1979-80. In 1975 it was transformed into a film called The Rocky Horror Picture Show which took over $135 million at the Box Office and is still shown in cinemas around the world nearly 50 years after its premiere, making it the longest running theatrical release in cinema history. Many stars of the stage and screen including Russell Crowe, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Meat Loaf, Jerry Springer, Adam Lambert, Emma Bunton, Stephen Fry, Reg Livermore, Bert Newton, Gretel Killeen, Derryn Hinch and Shane Jacobsen have appeared in The Rocky Horror Show over the past 50 years.
Seen by over 30 million people in more than 30 countries and translated into 20 languages, The Rocky Horror Show audiences have embraced the unique and mischievous musical with fandom and passion, celebrating the gratification of the senses. The hit music, the characters, the freedom and sexual awakening and empowerment means so much to so many across all walks of life. Featuring one of the most famous musical numbers of all time the party floor-filler, The Time-Warp, which remains a key to its continued success over the past 50 years.
The Rocky Horror Show has just completed its most successful UK tour and is one of the top performing musicals in the post pandemic era. It has also recently toured in Israel, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Argentina, Romania, Slovenia, Belgium, Tokyo, Korea, Brazil, Canada and Iceland.
The Rocky Horror Show tells the story of Brad and his fiancée Janet, two squeaky clean college kids who meet Dr Frank N Furter an extra-terrestrial mad scientist from the galaxy of Transylvania where people really like to party! It’s an adventure they’ll never forget, with fun, frolics, frocks and frivolity, bursting with timeless songs and outrageous outfits.
The 50th Anniversary Rocky Horror Show creative team includes Director Christopher Luscombe, Set Designer Hugh Durrant, Costume Designer Sue Blane, Choreographer Nathan M Wright, Lighting Designer Nick Richings, Music Richard Hartley (original musical arrangements).