Rocky Horror Show at Pavilion Theatre Glasgow Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Deb

Rocky Horror never fails its audience, it doesn’t matter if it is your first time or tenth time there is always something fresh as actors change and give their all as it is clear that they are enjoying being in this amazing show.

Laura Bird who opens the show singing ‘Science Fiction Double Feature’ as an usherette teasing the audience. Bird also doubled as Magenta whose beautiful strong clear voice reverberated around the auditorium. Her first costume as disappointing for me as it looked something a frumpy housewife would wear; sadly it did not fit her powerful role.

Brad (James Bisp) and Janet (Haley Flaherty) stole my heart with their performances. They complimented each other vocally as well as on stage, neither tried to out do the other so it was well balanced. As two young innocent college kids discuss their friend’s wedding when they get a flat tyre. They battle the storm going in search of help but come upon a really creepy castle where their innocence is robbed by the lusciously devilish Frank.

Narrator Jackie Clune, the first woman I have seen in this role, dressed more masculine giving me the impression she was meant to be a man. A bit confusing but she did a really remarkable job adlibbing and interacting with the heckler/s. Hecklers? Where were you this year? I was the quietest I have experienced through the years and it lost something special. Clune got in on the action several times but using a flip chart giving instructions for the ‘time warp’ was odd.

Stephen Webb as Frank-N-Furter brought back his strong dominating character. Last year I got to see Jason Donovan in this role and was disappointed as he didn’t control the stage as the central role. Webb owned his character; he was sexy, funny and crazy rolled together.

Riff Raff (Ryan Carter-Wilson) is another of my favourites; it is his odd looks, crazy limp that comes and goes. He appears to be this controlled man servant, yet he is controlling the narrative. Is this the illusion of reality? I loved the ‘pitch fork’ laser – it made me smile as it was simple and effective, it didn’t need to be something other worldly in looks which is an oxymoron.

Morgan Jackson as Rocky was everything a person believes the perfect male specimen should look like; physic of a god, smile that lights up his face, with teeth perfectly white and the stamina of a 100 normal men. But as Janet rightly pointed out ‘I’m just not into men with big muscles’. In parts Morgan appeared to naïve to the point he could have been Peter Pan.

In conclusion this year’s Rocky Horror lacked something other years had, can I specifically pinpoint exactly where it fell down, no. It was a collection of many little changes that made it as ‘so-so’. The actors did their parts extremely well; the singing was outstanding, the lighting was awesome as was the set. Will I be looking towards next year? Yes definitely. But you hecklers out there, please I beg you to come back!
Glasgow Pavillion: (Age Appropriate: 12 years and over)
9 – 13 June 2026
Tickets From: £26.50
https://trafalgartickets.com/pavilion-theatre-glasgow/en-GB/event/musical/the-rocky-horror-show-tickets
Rating: 4/5 stars