Rock Of Ages At The Bradford Alhambra Review

Reviewed by Jenny Bray

Be prepared for long hair, denim and leather and some crazy actions as you are taken back to 1987 on the Sunset Strip. With well known 80s rock songs from bands including Poison, Twisted Sister, Extreme, Slade, Whitesnake and Europe, you had better be ready to rock out to this musical. Even if you don’t recognise all the bands I’m sure you’ll know most of the songs, including; Feel the Noise, We Built This City, More Than Words, I Want To Know What Love Is, The Final Countdown and Don’t Stop Believin’.

The storyline is largely a fairly predictable one, girl moves to seek an acting career, boy and girl meet, fall in love but don’t let on, go different ways then meet back up again. Throw in ‘The Bourbon Room’ rock club, attempts made to tear it down for development, ‘Venus’ strip, sorry ‘gentleman’s’, club and a few other venues along the way and lots and lots of late 80s soft rock hits and you have Rock of Ages. It’s a feel good musical rather than one that takes itself too seriously. There is ample humour throughout, not least from Tim Oxbrow as Lonny Barnet who also takes on the role of narrator, playing to the audience (especially a person called Caroline who was referenced several times through the show once he’d singled her out near the start). Also listen out for various support band names.

Sherrie (Gabriella Williams) is the country girl who moves to Sunset Boulevard to become an actress. She meets Drew (Sam Turrell) after having her bag snatched. He works at The Bourbon Club and aspires to be a famous rock star. The owner of The Bourbon Club is Dennis Dupree (Kevin Kennedy – most well known as having been Curly Watts in Coronation Street for 20 years but who is also a bass player in the band Bunch of Thieves).

The cast all looked like they were really enjoying themselves, dancing their way energetically through their performances and smiling and laughing along on stage. Tim Oxbrow as Lonny and narrator brought the show together and provided a lot of laughs, including ad libbing to include the audience. The stand out song and vocals for me came from Gabriella Williams as Sherrie and Natalie Winsor as Justice when singing their duet part in Every Rose Has Its Thorn. Natalie Winsor had some lovely soulful tones to her voice.

This particular show had an exceptionally long interval. Unfortunately, there was some kind of technical hitch upon trying to start back up after the interval. This could have been handled better. There were a couple of announcements but no indication of what the issue was or how long it may last. It lasted for just over 30 minutes, by which time some people had given up and walked out. The audience were therefore slightly jaded when the second act finally started, although there were several cheers when it restarted. However, the mood quickly lifted as the second act throws you straight back in to the music and all out singing and dancing.

The set remained largely the same throughout, with industrial metal framework, loads of lights, huge rows of Marshall speakers as the walls of the club and a stage in the middle with a bar to the side. Other pieces of set were slid on to the stage for changes including ‘Venus’, an office and outside the club. There was a large screen at the top of the stage, which had visuals that enhanced the scenes.

Hertz (Vas Constanti) and Franz Klineman (David Breeds) provided some additional humour to the show. I liked the interaction that Franz had with protester Regina (Stephanie Chandos), especially their outfits when dueting.

There were several costume changes for most characters, with the men mainly in leather or denim and the women in short shorts and crop tops or similar skimpy outfits while dancing provocatively.

The age guideline is 12+. However, there is quite a bit of swearing, sexual innuendo and drug references so probably better suited to slightly older children.

The Alhambra is fairly central and easy to find. We parked for just £1 (all evening after 6pm) in the car park behind the National Science and Media Museum just down the road. There is a large bar with seating for the interval. All the staff are friendly and welcoming.

This is their farewell tour, so you’re running out of time to see it. Tour dates are only on until June of this year. ‘It’s the final countdown’…

Rating: I rate it a 4.5/5

Tickets cost from £21.50 to £44.50 (inclusive of booking fee)
Rock of Ages is on at Bradford Alhambra between 7th and 11th March 2023.
For more information or to book tickets visit www.bradford-theatres.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01274 432000

Bradford Theatres, The Alhambra Theatre, Morley Street, Bradford, BD7 1AJ
For further tour dates please visit; https://www.rockofagesmusical.co.uk/tour/