PRESS RELEASE - Thursday 7 August 2025
THE WAIT IS OVER – ROCKY’S BACK AFTER 15 YEARS!
THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
Direct from the UK – starring a sensational West End cast
AUCKLAND | CHRISTCHURCH | WELLINGTON
Feb & March 2026
Tickets on sale next week | Strictly limited seasons
Get ready, New Zealand – the world’s sexiest and most outrageous musical is back, and it’s bigger, bolder, and brasher than ever! After 15 years away, The Rocky Horror Show is making its long-awaited return, direct from the UK and starring a phenomenal West End cast.
This isn’t just a musical – it’s a wild, glitter-soaked party! So dust off your corset, strap on your heels, and get ready to Time Warp like it’s 1973. It’s the kind of night where you can dress up, shout out, let loose, and unapologetically be your fabulous self.
Written 50 years ago by our very own national treasure Richard O’Brien, The Rocky Horror Show has thrilled over 35 million theatregoers worldwide, has been performed in 30 countries, translated into 20 languages and is the longest continuously running contemporary musical in the world.
This spectacular tour is produced by global entertainment companies Trafalgar Theatre Productions and GMG Productions, renowned for bringing high-calibre international productions to the Asia Pacific – including recent New Zealand smash hits The Play That Goes Wrong, Madagascar The Musical, and Beauty and the Beast.
Auckland – The Civic | 26 Feb – 8 Mar
Christchurch – Isaac Theatre Royal | 11 – 15 Mar
Wellington – St James Theatre | 18 – 29 Mar
15 years away. One unforgettable return.
The Rocky Horror Show follows two squeaky clean college kids – Brad and his fiancée Janet – who, by a twist of fate, find themselves stranded outside a mysterious mansion. Inside awaits the fabulous and flamboyant Dr Frank’n’Furter, and a wild adventure full of fun, frolics, frocks, and frivolity.
Directed by Christopher Luscombe, this high-energy stage spectacular features all the iconic songs you know and love – Sweet Transvestite, Dammit Janet, and the pelvic-thrusting, showstopping Time Warp.
“What a great joy it is to have the world’s favourite rock and roll, rainbow musical, right back where it gestated. Break out the fishnets,” says creator Richard O’Brien.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“FIERCE AND FABULOUS FUN!” – Daily Express
“STILL THE SEXIEST & FUNNIEST SHOW IN TOWN” – Evening Standard
“★★★★★” – The Telegraph
Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a Rocky virgin, this is your invitation to the wildest night at the theatre. Dress up, shout out, and join the celebration – this is your chance to do the Time Warp again!
Running Time: 2 hours (including interval)
Age Guidance: 12+ (contains naughty bits – and we wouldn’t have it any other way)
Pre-sales start next Tuesday, with all remaining tickets available to the general public from Thursday via Ticketmaster and Ticketek.
But be warned: these are strictly limited seasons – and dammit, if you miss it, you’ll miss a once-in-a-generation chance to take a jump to the left... and a step to the riiight!
The movie is rated M in Aotearoa.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a 1975 independent musical comedy horror film by 20th Century Fox.
The screenplay was written by Sharman and actor Richard O'Brien, who is also a member of the cast.
The film is based on the 1973 musical stage production The Rocky Horror Show, with music, book, and lyrics by O'Brien. The production is a tribute to the science fiction and horror B movies of the 1930s through to the early 1960s. Along with O'Brien, the film stars Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Barry Bostwick and is narrated by Charles Gray, with cast members from the original Royal Court Theatre, Roxy Theatre, and Belasco Theatre productions, including Nell Campbell and Patricia Quinn.
The story centres on a young newly engaged couple whose car breaks down in the rain near a castle, where they seek a telephone to call for help. The castle or country home is occupied by strangers in elaborate costumes celebrating an annual convention. They discover the head of the house is Dr. Frank N. Furter, an apparently mad scientist who actually is an alien transvestite from the planet Transsexual in the galaxy of Transylvania, who creates a living muscle man named Rocky in his laboratory.
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Shadowcast is a term that emerged in the late 1980s to describe the performers and performances that grew around The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
More than costume dress-up or Audience Participation, a Shadowcast acts along with the film when it is played in a theatre with screen-accurate costumes and props.
In the early days of the Rocky Horror experience, people dressed up and acted along but from in the audience.
As the cult grew, casts became more and more integrated into the entire experience, and became a standard at most theatres.
Our Shadowcast has been running for 7 years and has mainly had Taranaki-based members up until 2022 when we were asked to produce a special Drag show by YouBeYou Tauranga and guest starred Richard O'Brien himself.
This special performance included many of the Drag cast live singing with Richard O'Brien!
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Our audiences are encouraged to dress up. It could be as your favourite character or as a Transylvanian/Party Goer. You never know, there might be prizes for your efforts!
You do not have to have seen the movie before to enjoy a live Shadowcast event at all.
Each audience member will receive a props kit which you will be guided to use throughout the show. There will be mess and noise and mayhem in abundance.
This is not a typical movie or theatre show to sit and watch quietly, there will be people yelling, throwing things at you and we absolutely expect you to get up and dance.
From the moment you join the queue to enter the theatre you will be immersed into the experience by our cast.
While the movie is rated M, the things we yell may be far more crass, so we would encourage those under 16 to come with a guardian but we are all for breeding future generations of Rocky fans, so make it a family affair!
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On Thursday 3 August 2023, we received the devastating and heartbreaking news we did not expect.
Our beloved cast member, Adriaan aka Damian, who was to play Rocky in our 2023 South Island tour had suddenly passed away during the night.
Adriaan was a massively talented performer who was adored by the entire Burlesque community and in particular in his home of Christchurch and the wider Canterbury region. He was a kind and loving person who would also offer up a place to stay or somewhere to park your car or a spot on his quiz team. His partner and him are just yummy people like that.
This news has devastated the whole community and our Rocky Horror cast are reeling from the loss of our Rocky.
Rest in Love our Rocky...
Kia mau ki te tūmanako, te whakapono me te aroha
- Hold fast to hope, faith and love
WHERE TO GET HELP:
1737, Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
Lifeline** – 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat