Jason Donovan is making a much-anticipated return to one of his most unforgettable roles: playing Frank-N-Furter in Richard O’Brien’s anarchic musical, The Rocky Horror Show, when it visits Newcastle Theatre Royal (Mon 27 Jan – Sat 1 Feb). Looking forward to donning the corset and heels again, Donovan beams, “In a nutshell, I’m a fan. I love the show; I love the music; I love the character. I was touring my own show about five years ago and included ‘Sweet Transvestite’ as a key moment in my musical career—it went down a storm.”
First staged in London in 1973, The Rocky Horror Show has since been performed in 20 different languages and seen by 30 million people worldwide. It follows a newly engaged, clean-cut couple whose lives take a wild turn when they stumble upon the strange mansion of Dr Frank-N-Furter, a mad transvestite scientist unveiling a Frankenstein-style creation named Rocky. Jason originally took on the flamboyant role in 1998 and now, 25 years later, he’s more than ready to step back into Frank’s world: “I don’t feel uncomfortable, playing Frank at 56—and, of course, I have personal reasons for being grateful to the show.”
During that late 90s production, Donovan met stage manager Angela Malloch backstage. “I’d be waiting to go on and get chatting to Ange,” he recalls. Sparks flew, and the couple eventually married in 2008; they now have three children—Jemma (24), Zac (23), and Molly (13). Meanwhile, Donovan’s career has moved from soap star status in Neighbours to chart-topping pop, then on to theatre stardom in shows as varied as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (most recently visiting Newcastle as Pharaoh in 2022). Yet it’s Dr Frank-N-Furter who holds a special place in his heart.
“One of the reasons I love Rocky is because it’s a short show,” he quips. “It says everything it needs to say and leaves the audience wanting more.” As for high heels and fishnets, he says they feel natural by now: “I come to the role as an actor, but I’ve always dreamed of fronting a rock band—this is about as close as I’ve got. When I put on those heels, I feel powerful, tall, in charge. Rocky is like panto for adults; the costumes are as much a part of the show as the music. Looking out from the stage, I see this beautiful landscape of people wearing outrageous outfits.”
Catch Jason Donovan as Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show at Newcastle Theatre Royal from Mon 27 Jan – Sat 1 Feb. Get ready to step into the Time Warp once again—it’s set to be an electrifying celebration of rock ’n’ roll, theatre, and pure, unfiltered fun.