This wasn’t your average night at the theatre. From fishnets and feather boas to outrageous laughs and spontaneous audience heckles, The Rocky Horror Show returned to the Grand Opera House in Belfast in full throttle last night and we absolutely loved it.
I took my 12-year-old son Logan along (yes, I know, probably not a traditional choice for a family outing – you can all roast me on TikTok for being a terrible mum) and I know, people will be gasping whilst clutching their pearls but this show is theatrical gold and for a kid raised on storytelling, music and cheeky humour, I would be a fool to think he was oblivious to the world.
“It was brilliant”
From the moment the curtains lifted, the atmosphere was electric. This isn’t a show you watch, it’s one you experience. Logan’s never seen Rocky Horror on screen, so the whole thing hit him like a glitter bomb in the face – shocking, hilarious, and totally unforgettable.
He loved the Narrator, played brilliantly by stand-up comic Nathan Caton, whose deadpan delivery and knowing glances made him a standout in a sea of campy chaos. I was taken in, as always, by the magnetic charisma of Dr Frank-N-Furter, played this time around by the incredible Adam Strong. His performance of I’m Going Home was the highlight of the night for me – powerful, moving and filled with raw theatrical brilliance.
Breaking the fourth wall and all the rules
One of the things Logan found most surprising was the audience interaction – the call-outs, the heckles, the complete breakdown of the fourth wall. For someone new to the show, it was a full-on sensory overload, but in the best possible way. He wasn’t ready to do the Time Warp (shocking, I know), but we’ll get him there one day…
This production leans into the show’s roots — it’s not just a musical, it’s a movement. And it’s one that’s clearly thriving. The energy in the room was palpable, with sold-out crowds, return audiences, and people who knew every word, every cue, and every thrust.
A stellar cast keeping the tradition alive
Alongside Adam Strong and Nathan Caton were Connor Carson as Brad and Lauren Chia as Janet – two squeaky-clean characters thrust into a world of glitter, gender-bending and glorious filth. Job Greuter as Riff Raff, Natasha Hoeberigs as Magenta and Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli as Columbia all delivered excellent performances, and Morgan Jackson’s Rocky – well, let’s just say I think most people in the room developed a bit of a “fancy” for him!
Edward Bullingham took on the dual role of Eddie/Dr Scott, and the supporting Phantoms (Ryan Carter-Wilson, Arthur Janes, Hollie Nelson, and Erica Wild) brought life, movement and chaos to every corner of the stage. The whole ensemble was tight, talented and clearly having as much fun as the audience.
“A pretty good job” — And that’s high praise
Let’s not kid ourselves, nobody’s ever going to top the original. But this cast did a damn fine job. Director Christopher Luscombe clearly knows how to keep the heart of Rocky pumping while making room for fresh energy and new interpretations.
This is a show that’s not afraid to be messy, loud and unapologetically queer. It’s the biggest party in musical theatre and if you’ve never seen it live, you need to sort that out. Fast.
Final verdict
Two thumbs up. One from me. One from Logan. We laughed, we cringed, we sang (some of us more than others),and we left with smiles on our faces.
The Rocky Horror Show runs at the Grand Opera House in Belfast until Saturday 27th July. If there are any tickets left, you better grab them. Suspend your expectations, put on your pearls and get ready to do the Time Warp again. Book your ticket at >> goh.co.uk/whats-on/the-rocky-horror-show
You won’t regret it.