PLAYING AT SUNDERLAND EMPIRE JANUARY 2026
The producers of Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical the Rocky Horror Show have announced casting for the 2025/26 ongoing world tour dates including a run at Sunderland Empire from Monday 19 – Saturday 24 January 2026.
This exceptional cast – led by West End star Stephen Webb – will be bringing their biggest party yet to audiences across the World. Stephen Webb returns to reprise the legendary role of Frank N Furter – having played it both on tour and in the West End to critical acclaim – at select performances and venues in 2025/26.
Brad will be played by James Bisp, Janet by Haley Flaherty, Riff Raff by Ryan Carter-Wilson
and Magenta/Usherette by Laura Bird. Columbia will be played by Daisy Steere, Rocky by
Morgan Jackson, Eddie/Dr Scott by Edward Bullingham and the Narrator by Nathan Caton or
Jackie Clune.
Completing the cast are Phantoms Jesse Chidera, Nathan Zach Johnson, Tyla Dee Nurden
and Bethany Amber Perrins, with on-stage swing/dance captain David Peter-Brown and on-
stage swing/assistant dance captain Lucy Aiston.
Producer Howard Panter said: “This new cast brings an extraordinary energy and freshness to
the show. It’s a thrilling mix of talent that promises to delight audiences up and down the country. I’m delighted the Rocky Horror Show will continue to deliver it’s unique guaranteed party night after night to packed sold out houses – it’s fierce, fearless and not to be missed!”
The Rocky Horror Show defies space and time as it continues to captivate audiences around the world featuring all the outrageous characters and infectious energy that has made the show a global phenomenon for over five decades. Directed by Christopher Luscombe, the smash hit show features all the famous musical numbers which have made The Rocky Horror Show such a huge hit for 50 years and counting, including “Sweet Transvestite”, “Science Fiction/Double Feature”, “Dammit Janet” and, of course, the timeless floor-filler, “Time Warp”.
The 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 is a guaranteed party, which famously combines science-fiction, horror, comedy and music while encouraging audience participation – meaning, of course, getting dressed-up in the most outrageous fancy dress.
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.
Since it first opened, the Rocky Horror Show has become the longest continuous run of a
contemporary musical anywhere in the world. The show has been seen by over 30 million
people worldwide in more than 30 countries and translated into 20 languages as it continues to delight audiences on its sell-out tour.
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, making it the longest running theatrical release in cinema history. Many stars including Russell Crowe, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Jerry
Springer, Jason Donovan and Meatloaf have appeared in the Rocky Horror Show over the past 50 years.
Ready to thrill you with fun and naughty moments, the Rocky Horror Show is the boldest bash of them all. But be warned, this show has rude parts!
The Rocky Horror Show will thrill Sunderland Empire audiences from Monday 19 – Saturday
24 January 2026. Tickets available online now at ATGTickets.com/ Sunderland *
A £3.95 transaction fee may apply to online bookings.