Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne
May 2023 – TICKETS ON SALE NOW
WWW.ROCKYHORROR.COM.AU
A brand-new Australian tour will kick off global celebrations in honour of iconic Rock ‘N’ Roll musical The Rocky Horror Show as it marks its 50th Anniversary in 2023. This brand new Australian production opens at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre in May 2023 starring Australian superstars Jason Donovan as Frank N Furter, and Myf Warhurst as The Narrator. Joining them will be 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.
Written and created by Richard O’Brien, The Rocky Horror Show has become one of the world’s favourite musicals and 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.
Jason Donovan’s over 30 year international career has made him one of Australia’s most successful performers. He was catapulted into homes in Australia and the UK in 1986 when he first appeared on Neighbours starring opposite Kylie Minogue and recently made a much-anticipated return to the iconic Australian series with Kylie seeing millions of viewers across the world tuning in for the heart-warming final episode. Jason’s debut album was a platinum selling record in Australia and was the highest selling album in the UK in 1989. Since then he has sold over 13 million albums worldwide and continues to tour with his live shows to adoring audiences. The multi award winner made his defining musical theatre debut in the lead role of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on the West End in 1991 which also earned him an Olivier Award nomination. He has since starred in many West End musical theatre productions including Priscilla Queen of The Desert, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Rocky Horror Show, Annie Get Your Gun and The Sound of Music as well in the Australian production of Chicago in Melbourne in 2019. Jason is currently starring as the Pharaoh in the UK tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and on the West End as Teen Angel in Grease.
Presenting the story on stage as The Narrator will be legendary and well-respected Australian music broadcaster, TV presenter, journalist & writer Myf Warhurst. Known to audiences from years behind the mic on Triple J, Triple M and Double J and most recently as co-host of the Australian commentary on the world’s biggest song competition Eurovision, Myf is one of Australia’s most accomplished music and pop cultural aficionados. Past Australian Narrators have included Bert Newton, Gretel Killeen and Derryn Hinch, so Myf’s 7-year TV stint wrangling rock stars and other showbiz luminaries on Spicks and Specks makes her a perfect choice to present the mayhem that ensues on stage when the inhabitants of far-off Galaxy Transylvania descend to earth with the insatiable desire to party!
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’. This film adaptation 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, Meatloaf, 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. This iconic brand holds a unique place in theatre history, a show which has defied the decades and continued to grow in popularity.
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 Rocky Horror Show is the boldest party bash of them all, ready to thrill fans and audiences alike with cheeky fun and nostalgia. Whether it’s your first time seeing the show or the twenty first time, or whether you dress up or not The Rocky Horror Show delivers in its promise of a guaranteed party.
Thank you.