Get ready for a night of high-energy mayhem as the Edinburgh University Theatre Company brings Richard O’Brien’s iconic cult musical The Rocky Horror Show to the Bedlam Theatre from September 23rd to 26th. When squeaky-clean couple Brad and Janet suffer a late-night car breakdown during a storm, their search for a phone leads them straight into the outrageously eccentric realm of Dr. Frank ‘N’ Furter.
If you wouldn’t mind introducing yourself, and giving a bit of an overview for audiences to the show, its history, and what to expect?
Hiya, my name is Hunter King and I’m the director of The Rocky Horror Show through the Edinburgh University Theatre Company at the Bedlam Theatre.
For those who don’t know Rocky Horror is a sexually liberating and Queer led adaptation of Frankenstein. The show debuted in 1973 before being turned into the film The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 1975, which was a major box office flop, but quickly became a cult classic when masses of alternative personalities flocked to midnight screenings of this strange film.
The plot revolves around Brad and Janet, a seemingly ordinary couple on a night out, who encounter car trouble and have to seek help from the owners of a strange castle, but are suddenly facing more than they bargained for when the master of the house, Dr. Frank-N-Furter brings his new creation to life.
From schlock B-movie, to cult classic, and now a celebrated piece of cinema and stage, why do you think Rocky Horror speaks so much to fans?
There is nothing like Rocky, nor has there ever really been, or much that has done what it did since then. The film brought together cultures of punks, musical theatre freaks, hedonists, film lovers, and just general weirdos into a place where they could be authentic to themselves and see representation of themselves not only on screen, but in the audience surrounding them. It is also a major stepping stone for Queer representation in media, and has an absolutely killer soundtrack. It has all of the essential pieces to be a success but wrapped up in a bow of unusualness that makes it even more alluring.
Rocky Horror fans are famous for their audience participation. How do the cast go about encouraging the one thing theatre fans are told not do: join in?
We are thrilled to have folks joining in the fun of the show in every way we can. Perhaps most notoriously at the film screenings are the shoutouts and props bags where people can yell and throw things. We have brought both of those things into Bedlam, the shoutouts are encouraged, and some of them will even be projected on a screen so audiences who don’t know them yet also get an opportunity to participate. Prop bags are available to purchase at the theatre, that way we can avoid using props that are dangerous or problematic (back in the 70’s folks notoriously used lighters and threw rice which would cause for nasty cleanup and rodent infestations) and we can ensure that folks know how to use their props with instructions in the bag.
We also will have a preshow ritual where we get the audience involved and try to have them open up from the beginning, so they know ahead of time what they’re getting into and that it will be a fun time for everyone, especially if they participate.
What part of your own personality do you get to unleash when working on this show that embodies self-expression, exuberance, and Queerness?
Rocky Horror is all about authenticity and not being afraid of public perception. We wanted to create an environment that honored that through and through, with a whopping majority of the team being Queer, as well as through the personification of characters. We would work with each actor to ensure that their portrayal of these characters felt authentic, utilizing both the source material that we know and love, as well as making sure the actors felt that their portrayals were right for them.
What’s the one element of the show which has been the most difficult to nail down?
The hardest thing to handle is definitely having a show that meets audience expectations for the Rocky Horror veteran, while also feeling authentically our own. There is a formula for this show and if you follow it exactly, you’ll end up with a fun show, but eventually it ends up being like the mac and cheese dish you grew up with. It’s comforting and nice to have, but after having the same mac and cheese all the time, sometimes it’s nice to add some breadcrumbs or a slightly different cheese blend. We want to make sure we’re bringing that same level of comfort, with a few added ingredients to give it a bit of emphasis.
Rocky Horror has been shocking, inspiring, and entertaining audiences for over 50 years. Is there anything which has been tweaked, or dressed in a way for today’s audiences and fans?
Not much has changed! The show itself is so loved that we kind of operated on the saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” We did however want to make sure that we had some elements to supplement the show, such as using some film techniques and multimedia to add to the fun. We also wanted to make sure that we didn’t shy away from hard topics. The violence, the intimacy, the musicality, all of it is still there in abundance, which has been a fun challenge to face, making the most out of some difficult material.
What’s the one piece of advice you would give to a Rocky Horror virgin coming to see the show for the very first time?
Normally I would encourage the virgins to watch the film but in this case I’d say don’t! We have worked hard to make a fun and accessible version of the show that should serve as a very exciting first time. From that I’d say come in with an open mind, some excitement, and maybe some red lipstick and you’ll be all set to give yourself over to absolute pleasure.
Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show will run at Bedlam Theatre from 23rd – 26th September
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