Published on March 29th, 2023 | by Adrian Gunning
TOMORROW NIGHT – THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW BROADCAST LIVE FROM THEATRE ROYAL SYDNEY TO CINEMAS ACROSS AUSTRALIA!
The 50th Anniversary production of iconic Rock ‘n’ Roll musical The Rocky Horror Show has kicked off global celebrations at Theatre Royal Sydney selling out performance after performance and thrilling audiences and critics alike. In an Australian first, the production will be broadcast live from the stage of Theatre Royal Sydney into cinemas across the country for ONE NIGHT ONLY, tomorrow Thursday 30 March.
Demand has been high at both the theatre and live broadcast cinema venues, with additional screenings made available across Australia. Tickets on sale now at RockyHorrorInCinemas.com
This is the first time Trafalgar Releasing, the global leader in Event Cinema distribution, has presented a live event from an Australian venue to cinemas across the continent – giving audiences from all corners of this vast land a unique opportunity to experience the thrill of a LIVE performance of The Rocky Horror Show. Direct from the magnificently restored Theatre Royal Sydney, this is also a first for the venue in its longstanding history as Australia’s oldest theatrical institution and a leader at the forefront of innovation and technology in the live experience environment.
Theatre Royal Sydney and Trafalgar Releasing, sister companies owned by Trafalgar Entertainment, have collaborated extensively in bringing this wonderful experience to Australian audiences. The live broadcast is making The Rocky Horror Show accessible to regional locations across Australia, including NSW regions such as Wagga Wagga, Orange, Kotara and Shellharbour.
Houri Tapiki, General Manager Theatre Royal Sydney, says: “The 50th Anniversary tour of The Rocky Horror Show has been an enormous success at Theatre Royal Sydney. Night after night, sell out audiences have joined the party and participated in the Time Warp, led by the incredible cast including Jason Donovan and Myf Warhurst. We are thrilled to be able to now share this amazing production with the rest of the country, by teaming up with Trafalgar Releasing to distribute the show live into cinemas from the Royal. Cinemagoers are in for a treat, with the unveiling of never-before-seen drone footage of the Venue, showcasing everything that happens behind the scenes to bring this sort of event to life. Innovation and creativity is at the heart of everything we do to deliver an experience like no other at Theatre Royal Sydney. We dare to be different and will continue to pioneer initiatives such as these to make Arts accessible to those in Regional areas and to those who may not be able to make it to the Theatre.”
Marc Allenby, CEO of Trafalgar Releasing, says: “We’re delighted to be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of The Rocky Horror Show with a live broadcast from Theatre Royal Sydney to cinemas across Australia. This is our first live broadcast from an Australian venue and it’s fantastic to be working with the team at the theatre and our partners within the Trafalgar Entertainment Group to bring one of the world’s favourite musicals to cinema audiences across the continent for the first time.”
This 50th Anniversary production stars Australian superstars Jason Donovan as Frank N Furter, and Myf Warhurst as The Narrator. Magenta is played by Stellar Perry, 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.
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 Rock ‘n’ Roll 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’. 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, 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. This iconic brand holds a unique place in theatre history, a show which has defied the decades and continued to grow in popularity.
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 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). The 50th Anniversary Rocky Horror Show is produced in Australia by Rocky Horror Company Ltd.
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.
In 2023 the Global Guaranteed Party is in Australia!