Rocky Horror Show – Bradford Alhambra

There are not many shows where the opening overture gets a massive round of applause, but this is the Rocky Horror Show where usual theatrical rules do not apply during this cult classic.

More than fifty years after Richard O’Brien first staged his transgressive love letter to the fifties and sixties B-movies of his youth the Rocky Horror Show continues to play round the world, including a cold Monday night in West Yorkshire.

This is the simple tale of two very straight fifties kids, Janet (Lucy Aiston) and Brad (James Bisp), who stumble upon the lair of transvestite mad scientist Frank N Furter who is conducting strange experiments in his spooky mansion with his gang of kooky misfits, and takes great delight in corrupting the naive young couple.  It’s a mashup of finding your sexual identity that was trailblazing for its time and low rent sci-fi that is done with enough cheek and charm to get away with being utterly bonkers.

The foyer of any Rocky Horror show is always interesting as people always come dressed up as the characters, including hairy men dressed up in lingerie and stockings as a tribute to Frank, and there was particularly clever recreation of the Usherette who opens the show.

Amidst all the mayhem on Hugh Durrant’s schlocky sci fi movie inspired set, O’Brien remembered to write some fantastic pastiches of fifties and sixties bubblegum pop songs. There are very few shows that have a first act double whammy like Time Warp and Sweet Transvestite. The audience rose as one – including your critic – to their feet to join in the iconic Time Warp dance, and there are ew more deliciously naughty stage entries than Frank sauntering on belting out his anthem, Sweet Transvestite

The other thing that makes this show unique is not only does the audience shout rude asides at points in the show, but unlike more traditional theatre it’s both expected and encouraged. The Narrator is on hand to try to manage the crowd, so it was really inspired casting to hand charming stand-up comic Nathan Caton the traditional big book.  Caton’s been dealing with hecklers for years, so he went toe to toe with the baying crowd with his quickfire wit and risqué responses.

Stepehen Webb is back as Frank with all the swagger and louche charm needed for this strangely appealing creature, although his mid European accent was an interesting choice. Long time show director Christopher Luscombe seemed to have made the classic bed scene particularly filthy on this tour with Webb, Bisp and Aiston clearly having lots of fun with the naughtiness much to the audience’s delight.

Bisp was best singer in a strong ensemble with a lovely Once in a While, and Aiston offered a raunchy Touch A, Touch A, Touch Me after Frank takes her on a journey to find her real self. Laura Bird as the Usherette handled an early technical glitch with great aplomb and was fun as Frank’s sidekick Magenta.

Many of the sexual identity themes in this show are now part of mainstream culture but back in straight laced seventies Britain it was truly shocking. But the core theme of just being yourself is as strong as ever, and whether you dress up to join the Rocky Horror cultists – or you don’t – this show still offers one of best nights out you will ever have in a theatre. And it’s likely Frank and company will still be pulling an audience fifty years from now.

Rocky Horror Show is at Bradford Alhambra until Saturday 7 February. To book 01274 432000 or www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

Reviewer: Paul Clarke

Reviewed: 2nd February 2026

North West End UK Rating: