Rocky Horror Picture show set for run at Sunderland Empire

Richard O’Brien’s musical has become the world’s favourite Rock ‘N’ Roll musical, having been performed worldwide for 45 years in more than 30 countries and translated into over 20 languages.

It is now returning for a 12-month UK tour starting at Brighton’s Theatre Royal in December.

It will run at the Sunderland Empire from January 28 to February 2.

This classic musical extravaganza will star West End star Stephen Webb as Frank, Strictly Come Dancing Champion Joanne Clifton as Janet and a1’s Ben Adams as Brad.

Kristian Lavercombe will also be reprising his role as Riff Raff, following more than 1,300 performances in The Rocky Horror Show around the world.

Directed by Christopher Luscombe, the smash hit show features all of the famous musical numbers which have made The Rocky Horror Show such a huge hit for over four decades, including “Sweet Transvestite”, “Science Fiction/Double Feature”, “Dammit Janet” and, of course, the timeless floor-filler, “The Time-Warp”.

Joanne said: “I've always loved Rocky Horror.

"I learnt the Time Warp in my dance classes in Grimsby when I was 4 years old ... 30 years later and I’ll be jumping to the left on the actual Rocky Horror stage, I can't quite believe it.”

Ben added: “Performing in Rocky Horror is a dream come true - I love the show so much it inspired me to write my own musical Eugenius.

"Joanne and I make quite a team and I’m sure that the whole cast will be raising the roof night after night as we perform for all the amazingly devoted Rocky fans."

The Rocky Horror Picture Show tells the story of Brad and his fiancée Janet, two squeaky clean college kids who meet Dr Frank’n’Furter by chance when their car breaks down outside his house whilst on their way to visit their favourite college professor.

It’s an adventure they’ll never forget, with fun, frolics, frocks and frivolity, bursting with timeless songs and outrageous outfits.

The Rocky Horror Show first began life in 1973 before an audience of just 63 people in the Royal Court’s Theatre Upstairs.

It was an immediate success and transferred to the Chelsea Classic Cinema, before going on to run at the Kings Road Theatre, 1973-79 and the Comedy Theatre in the West End, 1979-80. In 1975 it was transformed into a film called ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’.

This film adaptation took over $135 million at the Box Office and is still shown in cinemas around the world more than 40 years after its premiere.