Collector's Corner Flyers through the years - The 2000's

Queens Theatre Hornchurch Flyer May-June 2011.

While the official production of the show was resting "Cut to the chase..." the Queens Theatre in Hornchurch's own repertory company of actor/musicians mounted their very own unique version of Rocky.  Unique in the fact that for the first time in the UK the actors in the show not only played the usual characters, they also played musical instruments.

The idea that had previously worked so well for the show's director Bob Calton in his sci-fi musical "Return to the Forbidden Planet" showed some limitations when applied to The Rocky Horror Show. 

Matthew Quinn's entrance and reveal as Frank was slightly hampered due the fact that he was playing the guitar at the time. Later in the show, when the servants turn on Frank, it was left to Magenta to shoot Frank, as Riff-Raff himself was holding a violin, so when Magenta said the line "You killed them" the audience was left doing a double take.

The set for the show invoked memories of the church in the Picture show, the walls then revolving to create the inside of the castle, and musically the show sounded strong, sometimes at the expense of the direction and acting style of the show.

It has to be said it was a bold idea for Rocky and good of  Richard O'Brien and co to allow the production to try something new. It has to be noted that it was The Queens Theatre Hornchurch and Cut to the chase who has scored a minor hit with a revival of Richard's 1982 musical "The Stripper" which could explain why permission was granted.

Text and Image of flyer by fan club rep Kev