Rock of Ages – Sanctuary at Paradise in Augustines

Bare Productions is back at the Edinburgh Fringe with another smash-hit show – this time it’s Rock of Ages.  Known for their consistently high-quality productions, Bare have once again sold out, quickly becoming a yearly Fringe staple.  This high-energy, rocking, raunchy jukebox musical features hit classics such as Don’t Stop Believin’ and Can’t Fight This Feeling – so popular a film was made after it with stars such as Tom Cruise and Catherine Zeta-Jones starring in it.  As someone who notoriously hates jukebox musicals, Rock of Ages really took me by surprise.  Set in the Bourbon Room bar in 1984 Hollywood, we follow the love story of wannabe stars Sherrie (played by Georgia Brennan) and Drew (played by Joshua Scott) as the characters fight against the real estate developers who are trying to demolish the bar.  Narrated by the bar’s sound guy Lonny (Sam Eastop) we get the most campified, self-aware production, with Lonny and other characters frequently breaking the fourth wall and referencing the fact that they exist within a musical – very meta! 

As is expected of Bare, the cast were phenomenal, with picture perfect casting by the creative team – it’s hard to believe Ryan Livingstone (playing hard-core rocker Stacee Jaxx) doesn’t actually have wild parties with llamas (if you know, you know).  I couldn’t have dreamed up a better cast than this one – each actor fully embodies the spirit of their character both in image and performance.  The cast’s chemistry is unbeatable, with most of the core characters ending up in a couple one way or another – my favourite couple had to of course have been Lonny and bar owner Dennis (played by Will Jackson).  Jackson and Eastop were iconic – not only winning the audience over with their comic relief but also delivering incredibly strong vocal performances with effortlessness.  Our leads, Brennan and Scott both captured the naivety and sweetness of their characters – they really had us rooting for them, and unsurprisingly both had stunning vocals too.  We had some familiar faces in the cast too, with Rosie Sugrue returning to play Justice, the mother of the strip club, and Rebecca Drever playing proletariat fighter Regina – both forever iconic, always giving the fullest of energy to their work.

The creative team at Bare always execute their work flawlessly, giving us fun and stunning productions consistently.  Director, Dominic Whitefield-Holbrook always utilises the cast to their fullest, including gags and gimmicks that really get each cast member involved and totally expands the world building.  There’s nothing more amusing to me than really terrible wigs and there were plenty of them in this production so thank you for that Dominic.  I really resonated with journalist Constance, played by Robbie Noble – an evil critic with glasses and a very shabby black bob – certainly a bit of me. 

Felicity Hannah’s choreography is punchy and full-on, really well suited to the wild 80s theme, and what was even more impressive was the cast being able to perform it on the tiny stage.  The band were stood on the upper level of the stage, immersed in the show as the house band of The Bourbon Room.  We even got some interaction between the band and cast – with the very Scottish bass player ranting about how much he hates Stacee Jaxx, eventually knocking Jaxx out with his bass.  We even got some jazz hands from the band – it’s little details like this that makes Whitefield-Holbrook’s direction so enduring – there is fun infused into every element of the show.  And of course the tech was seamless as always, with dazzling, concert-like lights and well balanced sound design.

It’s always a pleasure seeing a Bare production – the cast and team just get it – this is a company you can always count on to have a good time at Fringe. 

Rock of Ages runs until the 9th of August at Sanctuary at Paradise in Augustines.  With tickets currently sold out, more information is available at https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/rock-of-ages

Reviewer: Jessie Martin

Reviewed: 3rd August 2025

North West End UK Rating: