Let’s Do the Time Warp Again (and Again and Again!): The Rocky Horror Picture Show 2025

As a Rocky ‘virgin,’ I had no idea what to expect walking into this year’s staging of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I should have branded myself with a red ‘V’ as my fellow virgins had done, but was happy I hadn’t when a selection of them made their way up onto the Byre’s stage to perform their best orgasm. 

“Have you ever fantasised about a Rocky character?” Ava Daniels, the show’s director (and the night’s host) asked the participants. As a glorious array of grunts and moans followed, I found myself excited to see what, or who, was coming next. 

Armed with a bag of props, including a slice of toast, playing card, condom, and page from this very newspaper, the audience was prepared for full immersion in the show. The film-screen descended from the heavens and the film, as well as the chaos, began! The opening number, sung by a pair of disembodied, blood-red lips, invited us to the ‘Science Fiction Double Feature,’ accompanied by a scantily-clad ensemble. 

Of course I know the film by its reputation: The outrageously camp and raunchy musical comedy is centred around one debaucherous night at an ambiguously spooky castle. Brad and Janet, played by Jack Dams and Sage Norwood, find their lives changed, and sex-drives ignited, by the notorious ‘Sweet Transvestite’ and mad scientist, Dr Frank-N-Furter. Parker Dymond’s Frank-N-Furter was larger than life in every sense of the word. His stage presence could not be ignored.

In his quest to create man — or perhaps a muscly sex doll — Rocky is born and orgiastic frenzy quickly ensues. Moira Leventhal’s Rocky was an absolute stud. Costumed in a bulging muscle-suit, Leventhal pranced around the stage, seducing the other characters left, right, and centre.

Each performer gave it their all. Finn Shearer’s criminologist was a personal favourite of mine — his appearances always got a laugh. Norwood’s Janet was similarly impressive, imbuing the iconic character with expression and whimsy.

The show does not shy away from its violence, with Frank-N-Furter’s pick-axe replaced with a humungous inflatable penis, many of the characters succumb to its heavy blow. The audience were delighted, the near-constant laughter and heckling were the highlights of the night. Rocky was a St Andrews show like no other — the audience truly became characters within as screens at either side of the stage directed us to hurl insults at the cast. 

“No neck!” we shouted as the criminologist told the tale of the fateful night. “Slut! A**hole!” we screamed, each and every time Janet’s and Brad’s names were uttered, respectively. The show embraced its sex-filled absurdity.

At times, the ensemble struggled with demanding choreography and reliance on the film left the audience in rare silence, however, Rocky’s imperfections made the night all the more deliciously camp. It takes balls to commit to a performance like this, and balls were delivered indeed.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show was the perfect start to the Hallo-weekend. Take me to Planet Transexual in the galaxy of Transylvania! St Andrews theatre could do with more raunch, more sequins, and let’s face it, more fun. I eagerly await the invasion of gay aliens onto our stages. 

Photos by Andrea Hernandez