Congress Theatre Eastbourne – 20th-23rd May 2026
Fishnets, corsets, outrageous audience shout backs and one of the most famous dance numbers in musical theatre, The Rocky Horror Show arrives at the Congress Theatre with a star turn from pop icon Jason Donovan.
Richard O’Brien’s cult classic still feels deliciously fun all these years later. The story follows squeaky clean couple Brad and Janet after their car breaks down outside a creepy mansion on their way to visit an old college professor. Once inside, they meet the wildly unpredictable Dr Frank n Furter and quickly find themselves dragged into an unforgettable night of seduction and bizarre science fiction chaos. The plot has always been gloriously ridiculous and that is exactly why audiences adore it.
Directed by Christopher Luscombe, this latest world tour production knows exactly what Rocky Horror fans want. It keeps the energy high, leans fully into the camp absurdity and never loses sight of the fact that the audience is just as important as the cast. The famous call backs fly across the theatre all night long and every filthy comeback is met with huge laughs.
The big draw for many is popstar Jason Donovan as Frank n Furter, and he gives the role a wonderfully scruffy rock star edge. Rather than playing the character as polished glamour, Donovan goes for something far messier and more unpredictable. He plays the role like a washed-up rockstar with a quirky mix of Ozzy Osbourne swagger, Tim Curry-style menace and Jack Sparrow eccentricity. He stomps and stumbles around the stage with complete confidence, fully embracing every ridiculous moment. His performance of Sweet Transvestite is one of the standout moments of the night, drawing huge cheers instantly.
Alongside him, Nathan Caton absolutely steals scenes as the Narrator. Rocky Horror audiences are famously loud and Caton handles their non-stop interruptions brilliantly. His reactions to audience shout outs are razor sharp, hilariously rude and delivered with perfect timing. Some of the funniest moments in the entire show come from his improvised exchanges with the crowd, and he keeps the narrative moving without ever losing control.
Haley Flaherty is superb as Janet, starting off sweet, nervous and painfully polite before gradually embracing Janet’s far naughtier side. Vocally she is excellent too, especially during Touch A Touch A Touch Me.
As Brad, James Bisp brings an awkward charm that makes him instantly likeable. His rich singing voice stands out throughout the production, particularly during Dammit Janet and Once in a While, where he gives the song genuine warmth underneath all the silliness surrounding him. Brad can sometimes fade into the background in Rocky Horror, but Bisp keeps him engaging throughout.
The supporting cast throw themselves into the madness with just as much enthusiasm. Ryan Carter-Wilson gives Riff Raff a wonderfully creepy edge, all sharp movements and unsettling grins, while Laura Bird is excellent as Magenta and the Usherette, delivering gorgeous, smoky vocals and plenty of attitude. Daisy Steere makes Columbia a complete livewire, bouncing around the stage with energy and comic flair.
Then there is Morgan Jackson as Rocky, who spends much of the show flexing, posing and dancing with impressive commitment but can also really sing. The audience clearly loves every second of it. Edward Bullingham also deserves plenty of praise for smoothly switching between Eddie and Dr Scott while bringing big comic energy to both roles.
Musically, the show remains an absolute crowd pleaser. The live band sounds fantastic throughout and every song feels like an event in itself. Sweet Transvestite, Dammit Janet and Science Fiction Double Feature all get huge reactions, but naturally it is Time Warp that sends the audience into meltdown. This huge song hasn’t aged a day.
The choreography is sharp and polished with a slightly chaotic edge, which works perfectly for Rocky Horror. Part of the show’s charm is that it should feel slightly wild and unpredictable. The ensemble Phantoms play a huge role in creating that atmosphere, constantly filling the stage with movement, poses and energetic dance routines. They bring so much personality to every scene and help keep the entire production buzzing with life.
What makes this tour work so well is that it never feels overly slick or manufactured. Rocky Horror should feel chaotic. It should feel like absolutely anything could happen at any moment, especially once the audience gets involved. This production embraces that unpredictability and has enormous fun with it.
By the final curtain, the entire audience is on its feet. People leave laughing, singing and still shouting lines from the show at each other in the foyer. More than 50 years after it first shocked audiences, The Rocky Horror Show still knows exactly how to throw a party, and Eastbourne happily joins in.
The Rocky Horror Show UK tour review – 5 stars
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