The Rocky Horror Show by Richard O'Brien

I was a recent father of my first child and out of work when I wrote the show. What was happening in your life at the time you wrote The Rocky Horror Show?

The innocent rather naughty fun of it draws not only a ‘theatre’ crowd but also people who want a fun evening and a guaranteed return on the investment of their ticket price. What about the show do you believe makes audiences feel comfortable joining in? The Rocky Horror Show creates an atmosphere that is different from other theatre shows. A retelling of Hansel and Gretel if you like, with Frank-N-Furter standing in for the wicked witch. It is also a fairy tale which allows us to feel comfortable with its rites of passage storyline. It’s not rocket science as far as narrative is concerned – Brad and Janet are a couple that we kind of recognise as Adam and Eve or Romeo and Juliet, like a stereotypical couple – we can all relate to them. It’s very inclusive, it’s very easy to watch. It is simply a musical comedy and as long as it rocks, and the audience are laughing what more could you wish for? Why do you think it is still successful today, half a century later? I shared that thought with Jim Sharman who had directed Jesus Christ Superstar. In the New Year I wondered whether it might serve as as prologue to the germ of an idea that I had for a musical. Someone asked me to entertain the Christmas staff party at the EMI Film Studios and so I wrote a song (Science Fiction Double Feature) and with the help of some jokes, performed to much laughter and applause. What was your inspiration behind The Rocky Horror Show?

The Rocky Horror Show by Richard O'Brien