A Night of Corsets and Call‑Backs: Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary Tour Review

Sarah
38 minutes ago
3 min read

Last Sunday night at the Dominion Theatre felt less like a usual West End outing and more like being dropped into a glitter‑splattered anniversary party where everyone already knows the words. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is marking it's anniversary of 50 years on screens, and this touring celebration leans hard into that sense of community, nostalgia and joyful chaos.

Panel of five people sitting on stage discussing "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" 50th Anniversary, with a colourful background and poster.

Before the film even rolled, we briefly met some of the original cast, which still feels slightly surreal when you’ve grown up with these faces projected larger than life. There was also a pre‑show Q&A with the president of the Rocky Horror fan club, who was both enthusiastic and genuinely funny – clearly someone who has spent many years joyfully immersed in this wonderfully odd universe. Adding to the sense that this was a special night, Peter Hinwood – the original Rocky – appeared for the Q&A at our London performance. He won’t be joining the rest of the tour, making his presence feel like a rare cameo rather than a regular feature.

Hinwood came across as quietly shy and a little bashful about his place in Rocky Horror history. It was fascinating to hear that he never had any ambitions to be an actor at all, having been cast almost entirely for his physique. After his brief time on screen, he spent the rest of his working life in an art gallery, far removed from gold speedos. There was something rather touching about how gently he regarded the legacy of a role that had taken on a life of its own.

People in colourful costumes stand on stage at a convention. A man in gold shorts is centered. Chairs and a large screen with portraits are behind them.

Little Nell asked all those who had dressed up to come to the stage - there were a lot of people who had gone to amazing efforts. She then picked some winners to come on stage. Who would you have chosen?

Performers in colorful costumes dance on stage with a coffin and skeleton backdrop. Bright lights highlight their vibrant outfits. — Shadow cast with Little Nell in her original role of Columbia

The format of the evening will be familiar to seasoned fans. A beautifully sharp, big‑screen version of the film plays while a “shadow cast” performs live on stage in front of it. For anyone new to the concept, a shadow cast recreates the film scene‑by‑scene, miming, lip‑syncing and acting out the action in perfect time with the screen. It’s playful, knowingly daft and very much in the inclusive, anything‑goes spirit that has kept Rocky Horror alive for half a century. I found it amusing at first, particularly in the way it invited everyone into the joke. For me, though, the novelty wore a little thin as the night went on, and I started to lose interest in the repetition.

One undeniable highlight was Little Nell joining in with the dance routines. She absolutely still has it – fizzing with energy, warmth and that unmistakable sparkle. The audience adored her. An unfortunate wardrobe malfunction briefly threatened to steal focus, but she powered through like a true pro.

The superfans and cosplayers were out in force, from meticulously corseted Frank‑N‑Furters to shimmering Columbias, and they were clearly having the best night imaginable. There were even a couple of brave Rocky's - there aren't many people that can get away with gold speedos! That joy is infectious, even if I still struggle to see the point of heckling a film that can’t respond. Audience call‑backs work brilliantly with the live musical, especially when paired with a sharp narrator who can fire straight back, but here it felt more habitual than clever.

Overall, this is an evening designed first and foremost for the fans – and on that level it absolutely delivers.

⭐️⭐️⭐️½

One, very firmly, for the fans.