Come up to the lab, and see what’s on the slab…
Durban, South Africa (09 September 2025) – A local production of the absolutely epic Rocky Horror Picture Show will land at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from 17 September to 12 October.
For the uninitiated, Rocky Horror is theatre turned inside out. Since the ‘70s, it’s built a reputation as a total cult classic, where both the cast and audience dress up in fishnets, feather boas, leather and lace. It’s campy, and a lot of fun.
The show’s origin story goes way back to 1973 in London, when the masterpiece was first written by Richard O’Brien (who also played Riff Raff in the original production and the later film). O’Brien was an out-of-work actor with a love for 1950s rock ’n’ roll, sci-fi B-movies, and camp horror.
He mashed them all together into one delightfully bonkers stage musical.
The very first performance was at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs (a tiny experimental space above a pub). It was only supposed to run for three weeks, but audiences latched on and the show gained a massive following. By 1974, it had moved to bigger theatres in London and even on Broadway.
The real explosion of cult fame, though, came with the film adaptation, The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 1975. Yes, the movie initially flopped at the box office, but it found new life at midnight screenings…
Fans started dressing up, shouting responses to the dialogue, throwing props (no bras and panties in Durban, please), and dancing the Time Warp in the aisles. That audience participation turned the film from a bit of a flop into the longest-running theatrical release in cinema history.
It was the legendary Tim Curry’s debut. He was fabulous. If you haven’t seen it already, watch it! It’s on Apple TV.
Now, Durban gets its own full-scale, live local production of it.
Directed by Steven Stead, a daring cast will bring the late night, double-feature picture show back to life. Tshepo Ncokoane will strut in Frank’s famous heels, Bryan Hiles and Keryn Lynn Scott as Brad and Janet, Schoeman Smit as Riff Raff, Belinda Henwood as Magenta, Kaylee McIlroy as Columbia, William Young as Rocky, Lyle Buxton as Eddie/Dr Scott, and Michael Gritten as the Narrator. Plus, loads of other local talent are pitching in to make the show unforgettable.
For fifty years, Rocky Horror has really been a space where everyone – outsiders, insiders, and anyone in between, can let loose, laugh too loud, and feel completely at home without taking yourself too seriously.
Sometimes you just need to do the Time Warp. Again. (You’ll get that last one if you watch the show).
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