Classic comedy with barnstorming tunes and dangerous costumes has returned to Theatre Royal Brighton.

Fresh from a visit by the Queen in its bicentenary year, the famous venue is now, until Saturday, hosting the biggest and baddest musical of them all - The Rocky Horror Show.

Andy Dickenson and Miles Godfrey report.

  • Fans are doing the time warp once again as camp classic The Rocky Horror Show lands at the Theatre Royal Brighton.

In the midst of celebrating its 200th year, and a history of glamour and innovation, the grand old dame is being besieged by revellers dressed in fishnet stockings, basques, high-heels and suspenders.

The fantastical, rock 'n' roll musical began a six-night run of naughtiness and audience participation in traditional style on Monday.

Now firmly established as part of the production, audience members followed the advice of the show's slogan "Don't dream it, Be it" by getting dolled up in outrageous garb and imitating the performers.

Jim Evans, 47, from Brighton, was among those arriving for the first performance on Monday. He said: "Any excuse to dress up.

"I've been many times before over the years in London, Southampton and Brighton.

"I just want to have a lot of fun and laughter and have some audience participation."

James Baddans, 40, said: "The Rocky Horror Show is fantastic, it's a cult classic. It has been part of my life ever since I was small.

"Every year it is on somewhere and I go to see it. I expect some really good one-liners."

John Saward, 41, said: "This is definitely the place to see it."

Lauren Webb, 20, said: "It is the randomness we love, we absolutely love it - and the opportunity to dress up.

"We've seen it once on film and when we saw it was coming to the Theatre Royal Brighton we thought, Yeah why not?'"

Ruth Woodward, 22, said: "We just wanted an excuse to come and dress up and have a laugh."

A large number of those arriving at the Theatre Royal Brighton were wearing fancy dress but even more are expected to don outrageous outfits for tonight's performance, which is the official party night.

Many of those who have booked are celebrating birthdays or other special occasions and plan to take a full part in the show themselves.

The show was last seen in Brighton starring Suzanne Shaw, of Hear'Say fame, and now features David Bedella, previously in Jerry Springer, The Opera.

It is the fourth time the theatre, which is holding a season of events to celebrate its birthday, has hosted the musical.

The Argus is asking for stories from people who used to work there, have performed at the venue or have any memories as part of our 200 Stories for 200 Years series.

The Rocky Horror Show's writer Richard O'Brien returned to the theatre last year to watch his creation come back to life.

A spokeswoman for theatre said: "We are delighted to welcome the production back to our venue during our 200th anniversary.

"It's an irresistible mix of glamour, theatricality and naughtiness which makes it the perfect show for our audiences."

Previous productions of The Rocky Horror Show at the theatre brought singer Jonathan Wilkes to the city in 2003 and, in 1998, ex- Neighbours star Jason Donovan.

It now returns following a sell-out tour and a season in the West End.

On Monday night, fans said they were eager to have it back.

Tamara Nasser, 27, said: "It's a great show and it's a proper Brighton thing to do to come and dress up like weirdos."

O'Brien wrote the musical in 1973, developing it with Australian theatre director Jim Sharman - who had already worked on productions of musicals Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar.

It was during the London run of Superstar that the two met, with O'Brien briefly playing Herod.

Together they launched The Rocky Horror Show with a three-year run in the West End and Tim Curry in the title role of Frank N Furter.

Curry was the only member of the cast to reprise his part for the US premiere in Los Angeles in 1974, where he was joined by Meat Loaf as Eddie and Dr Scott.

However, when the show transferred to Broadway a year later, it was panned by critics and closed after just 45 performances.

It was the movie, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, released later that year, that really caught the US public's imagination.

It led to the film being played at cinemas repeatedly at weekends, usually at midnight.

And it was then fans began going dressed as characters from the film and mimicking events, by yelling jokes, throwing food, dancing and singing in the aisles.

With its plot rifled from old horror movies, camp sensibilities and classic pop songs such as Damn it Janet and Sweet Transvestite, theatre managers said The Rocky Horror Show was the perfect accompaniment to its 200th year.

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