Rocky Horror thrills Manchester as Jason Donovan leads wild return to the Palace

Tuesday, 20 May 2025 23:42

By David Murphy

Jason Donovan wowed the crowd in a lively and laugh filled revival of The Rocky Horror Show at Manchester’s Palace Theatre, with high heels, mishaps and plenty of sparkle.

The Rocky Horror Show returned to Manchester this week, and it delivered exactly what fans came for, big laughs, sing-along songs and full on chaos. Leading the cast was Jason Donovan, who brought confidence, comedy and charm to the role of Dr Frank N Furter.

Donovan, known for his pop career and role in Neighbours, showed real stage presence. When one of his shoes broke mid-performance, he took it in his stride, turning it into a joke and carrying on without fuss. It was a perfect example of the show’s playful spirit.

The musical, now 50 years old, still feels full of energy. Its message, about being yourself and not taking life too seriously, landed well with the audience, many of whom arrived in costume and joined in with the show’s famous audience heckles.

Lauren Chia was a standout as Janet, giving a strong vocal performance and lots of personality. Connor Carson played Brad with just the right mix of innocence and comedy, while Jackie Clune kept the audience laughing as the narrator, expertly handling both scripted and unexpected interruptions.

Other cast members also shone. Job Greuter brought a creepy edge to Riff Raff, Natasha Hoeberigs and Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli were excellent as Magenta and Columbia, and Morgan Jackson’s Rocky impressed with both muscle and charm.

The music was tight and punchy, with favourites like Dammit Janet, Sweet Transvestite and The Time Warp getting big reactions. Unusually, the audience started dancing to The Time Warp during the main show, not waiting for the encore, a sign of just how much energy was in the room.

The set design, costumes and live band added to the fun. This wasn’t a radical reimagining of Rocky Horror, but a sharp, confident production that kept to the show’s roots, and reminded everyone why it’s still going strong after five decades.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the madness, this version of The Rocky Horror Show is well worth seeing, and anyone reviewing this show, like us, will give it an easy five stars. And with Jason Donovan leading the way, it’s an extra treat for Manchester audiences until May 31.

You can get your tickets via the ATG website here: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-rocky-horror-show/palace-theatre-manchester/