Despite The Rocky Horror Show being one of the most recognisable musicals ever staged, I’d somehow never seen it live. I’d even had tickets booked before, only for plans to fall through. So walking into Manchester’s Palace Theatre, surrounded by theatre-goers who were clearly devoted fans of the show, felt long overdue.
What immediately became clear is that Rocky Horror isn’t simply a musical you watch. It’s one you experience alongside hundreds of people who already know every line and every callback.
For me, The Rocky Horror Show has remained so popular for over 50 years because of its audience. As a first-time viewer, it was fascinating to watch.
Most productions would significantly struggle if people shouted back at the stage throughout the performance – and it would certainly frustrate many viewers. However, for this production, it becomes part of the script. The audience’s quick-fire shout-outs blur the line between musical theatre and pantomime, creating a performance that must feel slightly different every night.
Nathan Caton, as the Narrator, deserves enormous credit for keeping everything under control. His quick thinking and razor-sharp improvisation elevated the entire evening. One unexpected audience remark during our performance was met with an instant response that had the theatre erupting with laughter. Those moments can’t be rehearsed, and Caton handled them with the confidence of someone completely at home in the chaos.
It’s this relationship between cast and audience that makes Rocky Horror unlike almost anything else on stage.
A production that never does anything by halves
If The Rocky Horror Show committed to anything less than absolute excess, I don’t think it would work.
Everything about this production embraces a ‘more-is-more’ philosophy. Bold lighting and wonderfully outrageous costumes immediately catch the eye, while the staging moves effortlessly between scenes without ever interrupting the momentum. Every design choice feels intentionally theatrical rather than subtle, and it’s genuinely impressive to watch it all come together on stage.
This is certainly not a minimalist production, but that’s exactly why it works.It’s gloriously camp, unapologetically flashy, and completely committed to its identity.Â
A cast with endless energy
Stephen Webb throws himself into Frank N Furter with complete confidence. Flamboyant and deliciously mischievous, he dominates the stage whenever he appears, backed up by a powerhouse vocal performance that never loses control.
My standout performance, however, came from Ryan Carter-Wilson as Riff Raff.
From his perfectly hunched physicality to every unsettling glance and movement, Carter-Wilson creates a character that’s impossible to ignore. It’s one of those performances where the smallest details make the biggest impression.
The rest of the company deserve equal praise. A production this energetic demands constant commitment, yet there wasn’t a weak link on stage. Vocally, everyone was exceptionally strong. Given the show’s deliberately chaotic style, I wondered whether the music might sometimes take a back seat to the comedy, but the quality of the singing remained consistently impressive throughout.
A show that reflects its time
Watching The Rocky Horror Show in 2026 naturally raises a few questions. Some of its themes and jokes inevitably feel rooted in the era in which it was written, and there are moments that modern audiences may interpret differently, particularly around themes of consent and aspects of its portrayal of gender and sexuality.
However, I never felt the production was presenting those ideas as modern truths. Instead, it leans heavily into parody, borrowing from 1950s science-fiction films while reflecting the counter-cultural spirit of the 1970s when the musical was created. That context doesn’t mean every moment will land the same way today, but it does help explain why the show has endured.
Getting lost in the chaos
As someone experiencing Rocky Horror for the first time, I did occasionally find myself losing track of the story.
Whether that was because of the deliberately bizarre plot, some dialogue being difficult to catch, or the audience callbacks occasionally drowning out key moments, I’m not entirely sure. Act Two was where this became most noticeable, with several scenes leaving me wondering if I’d missed something important.
Returning fans probably won’t notice this at all, but newcomers may need to concentrate a little harder than expected.
Final thoughts
I left the Palace Theatre genuinely surprised by how much I’d enjoyed myself. As someone who’s naturally quite introverted, the sheer volume of everything initially felt overwhelming. The audience participation and relentless energy are unlike anything I’ve experienced in a musical before. Yet after a few scenes, it all clicked. Rather than distracting from the production, the audience is part of it.
During Act One’s Time Warp, almost the entire theatre was on its feet, dancing together without hesitation. Looking around, what struck me most wasn’t the spectacle on stage, but the people watching it. Fans in elaborate costumes struck up conversations with complete strangers, laughing together as if they’d known each other for years. There was a genuine feeling that everyone belonged, regardless of who they were.
That’s ultimately why The Rocky Horror Show continues to thrive. The music and performances are part of its enduring appeal, but it’s the sense of acceptance and shared joy inside the theatre that lingers long after the curtain falls.
Rocky Horror Show is running at the Palace Theatre until 01 August 2026. Book your tickets now.
**Tickets gifted in exchange for an honest review
Kelsey Haslam is the founding editor of Magenta Adventures Travel Publication and a freelance travel writer with a focus on community-based travel, culture-led experiences, and theatre tourism. She is passionate about spotlighting lesser-known destinations and connecting travellers with meaningful, human-centred stories.
Her published work includes destination features and luxury hotel reviews for leading travel outlets such as A Luxury Travel Blog, Beau Monde Traveler, and Luxury Lifestyle Magazine.
Explore more about Kelsey’s background on the About Page.
