Preview: Rocky Horror Show at Sunderland Empire

LEGENDARY MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA

RETURNS TO SUNDERLAND EMPIRE NEXT MONTH!

JUST ANNOUNCED - COMEDIAN DOM JOLY AS THE NARRATOR FOR SUNDERLAND!

ALONGSIDE JOANNE CLIFTON, BEN ADAMS & STEPHEN WEBB

Rocky Horror Show

Sunderland Empire

Monday 28^th January – Saturday 2^nd February 2019

ARE YOU READY FOR THE ANTICIPATION? Trigger Happy TV star Dom Joly will take to the Sunderland Empire stage to perform the iconic role of Narrator as celebrity narrators are announced for the new national tour of the legendary musical extravaganza, Richard  O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show.

Dom Joly - Photo: Paul Gorra

Trigger Happy TV star Dom Joly said: “I'm soooo excited to play the part of the narrator in The Rocky Horror Show. I've been entranced by the show since I stumbled upon it, one late night, in a cinema in Notting Hill Gate in 1990. More importantly, I haven't had the opportunity to wear fishnets since I was a Goth back in the late Eighties...any excuse..."

Dom Joly will join the previously announced cast, Strictly Come Dancing Champion Joanne Clifton as Janet and a1’s Ben Adams as Brad and West End star Stephen Webb as Frank, Kristian Lavercombe will also be reprising his role as Riff Raff, following more than 1300 performances in The Rocky Horror Show around the world. Directed by Christopher Luscombe, the smash hit show features all of the famous musical numbers which have made The Rocky Horror Show such a huge hit for over four decades, including “Sweet Transvestite”, “Science Fiction/Double Feature”, “Dammit Janet” and, of course, the timeless floor-filler, “The Time-Warp”.

Since it first opened in London in June 1973 at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show has become the world’s favourite Rock ‘N’ Roll musical, having been performed worldwide for 45 years in more than 30 countries and translated into over 20 languages. This critically-acclaimed stunning new production is now back by public demand and returns for a 12 month UK tour starting at Brighton’s Theatre Royal this month (13 December) with a date at Sunderland Empire, 28 January – 2 February 2019.

The Rocky Horror Show tells the story of Brad and his fiancée Janet, two squeaky clean college kids who meet Dr Frank’n’Furter by chance when their car breaks down outside his house whilst on their way to visit their favourite college professor. 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 a guaranteed party, which famously combines science-fiction, horror, comedy and music while encouraging audience participation meaning, of course, getting dressed in the most outrageous fancy dress.

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 more than 40 years after its premiere, making it the longest running theatrical release in cinema history. Many stars including Russell Crowe, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Jerry Springer, Jason Donovan and Meatloaf have appeared in The Rocky Horror Show over the past 45 years.

In 2015, as part of a sold-out season at London’s Playhouse Theatre, a special star-studded Gala charity performance in aid of Amnesty International was broadcast to over 600 cinemas across the UK and Europe. The live screening - featuring a host of celebrities playing The Narrator including Stephen Fry, Mel Giedroyc, Emma Bunton, Ade Edmondson, Anthony Head and Richard O’Brien - smashed box office records and was the biggest grossing film in cinemas across the UK.  The performance was subsequently screened on the Sky Arts channel.

Ready to thrill you with fun and naughty moments, The Rocky Horror Show is the boldest bash of them all. But be warned, this show has rude parts!

Tickets available in person at the Box Office on High Street West, from the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 3022* or online at http://bit.ly/SUnderlandRockyHorror #Ad

*Calls cost 7p per minute plus your plus your phone company's access charge. Booking and transaction fees may apply.