Australian superstar Jason Donovan is set to star in a legendary rock and roll musical as it stops at Cliffs Pavilion next year.
Jason Donovan is making a much-anticipated revival of his role as Frank-N-Furter in Richard O’Brien’s famous musical, The Rocky Horror Show, as part of a new world tour following a sold-out Australian tour this year.
Donovan shot to chart-topping pop stardom in the late 1980s, graduating from small-screen fam as Scott in the long-running Australian soap Neighbours.
On why he's reprising the role, he said: “In a nutshell, I’m a fan. I love the show; I love the music; I love the character.
“I was touring my own show about five years ago and included ‘Sweet Transvestite’ from Rocky as a key moment in my musical career. It went down a storm.”
The show also holds sentimental value for the star as during his previous stint as Frank-N-Furter in the late 90s tour, Donovan met his wife Angela Malloch who was stage manager.
The timeless classic stops at the Westcliff theatre from Monday, January 13, to Saturday, January 18 in 2025 on its new tour, with late afternoon and evening shows.
Donovan has also appeared in a number of stage shows, most prominently as Joseph in the original production of Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the demon barber of Fleet Street himself in Sweeney Todd.
But it is Dr Frank-N-Furter who occupies a special place in his heart. “One of the reasons I love Rocky is because it’s a short show.
“It says everything it needs to say and nothing more. There’s no unnecessary padding. It means nobody gets bored and you leave them wanting more.”
Donovan said the show “seems as fresh as it’s always been and still is relevant”, and said he loves the “eccentricity” of the character Frank ‘N’ Furter.
He added of the character: “I love its heart, I love the madness. I think the music carries you, it’s punctuated in the right way. And it just works for me.
“I always wanted to be the lead singer of a band and this is my moment. I’m in this band, this sort of crazy, alternate band, indie band, and it’s sort of, the shoes fit”.
The show, which premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in June 1973, follows Brad and his fiancee, Janet, as they happen across a gothic looking mansion after their car breaks down.
They meet the head of the house Dr Frank ‘N’ Furter and the couple watch on as he creates a man called Rocky in his laboratory.
Tickets are available for the Cliffs shows at RockyHorror.co.uk, starting from £22.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel