A “LEGENDARY” musical will take to the Southampton stage next year.

One of the world’s most loved rock ‘n’ roll musicals, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has been performed for 45 years in more than 30 countries and translated into more than 20 languages.

Now a new production featuring Strictly Come Dancing champion Joanne Clifton and boy band Blue’s Duncan James will come to Southampton.

West End star Stephen Webb stars as Frank, and a1’s Ben Adams is Brad in this new production by director Christopher Luscombe.

Kristian Lavercombe will reprise his role as Riff Raff, following more than 1300 performances in The Rocky Horror Show around the world.

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”.

Duncan James said: “Frank is such an iconic role, it’s an honour to be able to play him and a role that I have always wanted to do. I’m so excited to be touring with such a fun and vibrant show, and to be working with this fantastic cast.”

28/05/16 PA File Photo of Duncan James at the British Soap Awards 2016 at the Hackney Empire, 291 Mare St, London. See PA Feature BOOK Pointless. Picture credit should read: Matt Crossick/PA Photos. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA 28/05/16 PA File Photo of Duncan James at the British Soap Awards 2016 at the Hackney Empire, 291 Mare St, London. See PA Feature BOOK Pointless. Picture credit should read: Matt Crossick/PA Photos. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA

Joanne Clifton added: “I’ve always loved Rocky Horror. I learnt the Time Warp in my dance classes in Grimsby when I was four years old and 30 years later and I’ll be jumping to the left on the actual Rocky Horror stage, I can’t quite believe it!”

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 on their way to see their favourite professor. It’s an adventure they’ll never forget, with fun, frolics, frocks and frivolity, bursting with timeless songs and outrageous outfits.

It famously combines science-fiction, horror, comedy and music while encouraging audience participation meaning, of course, getting dressed in the most outrageous fancy dress.

It first began 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’.

 

The film adaptation took more than $135 million at the box office and is still shown in cinemas around the world, making it the longest running theatrical release in cinema history. Stars including Russell Crowe, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Jerry Springer, Jason Donovan and Meatloaf have appeared over the past 45 years.

It comes to The Mayflower from April 8-13, 2019.