Australian superstar Jason Donovan makes a much anticipated return to one of his most famous roles
Jason Donovan makes a much anticipated return to one of his most famous roles: playing Frank-N-Furter in Richard O'Brien's anarchic musical, The Rocky Horror Show at Edinburgh Playhouse.
Article Source: ATG
Last Updated: 19 December 2024 13:42
Jason Donovan is making a much anticipated return to one of his most famous roles: playing Frank-N-Furter in Richard O’Brien’s anarchic musical, The Rocky Horror Show. So, the question has to be: why?
“In a nutshell,” he says, “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’ from Rocky as a key moment in my musical career. It went down a storm.”
He subsequently emailed producer Howard Panter saying that he’d read there was to be a 50th anniversary production of Rocky Horror and he’d love to be involved. And so it came to pass: first in Sydney and Melbourne and now, from mid-August, via an extensive UK tour.
The Rocky Horror Show is a musical with music, lyrics and book by Richard O'Brien. A humorous tribute to various B movies associated with the science fiction and horror genres from the 1930s to the early 1960s, the musical tells the story of a newly engaged, clean-cut couple getting caught in a storm and coming to the home of a mad transvestite scientist, Dr Frank-N-Furter, unveiling his new creation, Rocky, a Frankenstein-style monster in the form of an artificially-made, fully-grown, physically perfect muscle man complete with blond hair and a tan.
The show was produced and directed by Jim Sharman. The original London production premièred at the Royal Court Theatre (Upstairs) on 19 June 1973. It later moved to several other locations in London and closed on 13 September 1980. The show ran for a total of 2,960 performances. On the 50th anniversary of the musical in 2023, it is said the production had been performed in 20 different languages and seen by 30 million people globally.
He's the same performer but how does Jason feel about tackling the role over 25 years later? “I don’t feel uncomfortable, playing Frank at 56 – and, of course, I have personal reasons for being grateful to the show.”
The stage manager on that late 90s touring production was a young woman called Angela Malloch. “I’d be backstage waiting to go on,” recalls Jason, “and I’d get chatting to Ange.” The blossoming friendship turned into romance but the relationship hit the buffers.
Shortly afterwards, Angela found out she was pregnant. It was ultimatum time. If the relationship had any chance of working, she told me, and if I was going to have any involvement in the life of our child, I would have to give up the self-indulgent hedonistic lifestyle of the 90s and take greater control of my life. And I did.
It's something that happened gradually rather than immediately. “You either seize your opportunities or you don’t”. But, in the end, he says, you’ve got to want to change. “Elton John said it and it’s true: nobody can do it for you.”
It was a major turning point in his life and the beginning of a relationship – the couple finally married in 2008 – that has stood him in good stead from that day to this. The couple have three children: Jemma is 24 and an actress; 23-year-old Zac is a TV producer in Australia and Molly, 13, is still at school.
In the meantime, their father has graduated from small-screen fame as Scott in the long-running Australian soap, Neighbours, to chart-topping pop stardom and now, among much else, as a stalwart of musical and straight theatre in a diverse number of productions.
He played Joseph in the original production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (returning as Pharaoh in the 2019 revival and subsequently on tour). He was in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts, has had two stabs at playing drag artist Mitzi in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, he also played music mogul Sam Phillips in Million Dollar Quartet, the demon barber of Fleet Street himself in Sweeney Todd and Lionel Logue in The King’s Speech.
But it is Dr Frank-N-Furter who occupies a special place in his heart. “One of the reasons I love Rocky is because it’s a short show.” And nor is he joking. “It says everything it needs to say and nothing more. There’s no unnecessary padding. It means nobody gets bored and you leave them wanting more.”
Fine but, hand on heart, what’s it like climbing into those fishnet stockings and high heels seven times a week? “In many ways, very easy, I put on the costume and there’s Frank all over again. I’m in touch with my feminine side but I come from a masculine sensibility. The character embraces both sides of me: a strength and a vulnerability as well as danger and denial.
“Look, I come to the role as an actor. I always dreamed of fronting a rock band and this is about as close as I’ve got. When I put on those high heels, I become that rock ‘n’ roll star. It makes me feel powerful, tall, in charge.
“And audiences love it. As I look out from the stage, I see a beautiful landscape of people wearing outrageous costumes. It’s not hard to see why: in many ways, Rocky is panto for adults. The costumes are just as much a part of the show as the characters and the music.”
All right but what about the wear and tear on his back? He laughs. “I spend a lot more time in physio these days, something I’ve put in as an appendix in my contract! I’m in my mid-50s. I’m aware of having to look after myself.”
With regular exercise? “Yes, but not obsessively so. Mental health and physical fitness go hand-in-hand for me. This life is a long journey, you hope. My dad gave me the tool of a good work ethic linked to physical activity.
“I don’t go to the gym: I’m not interested in lifting weights. But I swim. I ride my bike. I stretch. I steam. I do those things more or less on a daily basis. In fact, they’ve become a borderline addiction. And, of course, doing the show is a work-out in itself: I put a lot of energy into my performance.”
He’s also sensible about his eating regime. “Within reason but then I’m lucky. I seem to burn a lot of fat naturally. Trouble is, you get to my age and you’re in sniper’s alley: increasingly, you’re dodging a lot of bullets. There’s a bit of arthritis here, deteriorating eyesight there. If I take off my glasses, I can’t see whether the bottle contains shampoo or conditioner!” he laughs.
“Although my vocals were never my strongest point back in the day, since Joseph, I have worked really hard and through 30 years of strengthening my vocal cords – they’re a muscle like anything else – I’ve become a better singer. Rocky now plays to my strengths, less musical theatre, more edgy, a little bit rock ‘n’ roll. More me really!”
Touring at any age is demanding and Jason is has embarked on a fairly punishing schedule. He performing in Bromley and Wycombe in August, for two weeks in the West End at the Dominion from September 6, then Fareham, Bath, York, Glasgow from October 28, Cardiff, Blackpool, Sheffield, Southend, Edinburgh and Newcastle from next January 27. Additional dates in 2025 include Bournemouth, Milton Keynes, Cheltenham, Swindon, Dartford, Birmingham, Darlington, Shrewsbury, Brighton, Oxford, Richmond and Stoke-On-Trent.
He makes light of it. “On tour, I wake up a little later; there are no domestic chores to tackle – no trimming the ivy or doing the washing. And I’m a seasoned professional when it comes to locating any M&S or Waitrose.
“I do try and get home at weekends, though, and not agree to more than three or four weeks away at a stretch. But if I want to play Frank – and I do – I’ve got to travel. It comes with the territory.
And after Rocky? “I’ve got my Doin’ Fine 25 tour – that’s 35 concerts across the UK and Ireland. It’s a greatest hits show, a celebration of 35 years of work.”
For now, though, all his concentration is on bringing Frank-N-Furter back to life, both for his own satisfaction and that of his inexhaustible audience. “I’ve reached a point of great contentment,” says Jason. “As long as I have my family and my health, as long as I have a good life/work balance, I’m happy. I like to think I work to live, not the other way around.”
The Rocky Horror Show comes to Edinburgh Playhouse between 20th – 25th January, tickets are on sale via www.atgtickets.com
Sponsored Links
Latest Edinburgh News
Meet Festive Film Favourites at Fort Kinnaird in December
Christmas is already in full swing at Fort Kinnaird, and the festivities are set to get even more magical as a line-up of much-loved characters visit the centre for the first time this December.
READ MORE
Edinburgh bar to raise Cash For Kids after Christmas nutcracker theft
Copper Blossom on George Street Edinburgh has launched a new festive cocktail in aid of a children’s charity following the theft of its eight-foot Christmas nutcracker statue.
READ MORE
Embrace the spirit of Christmas on International Volunteer Day
Christmas is a time for giving, and what better opportunity to discover new ways to give back to your community than on Friday 5th December, International Volunteer Day.
READ MORE
WIN! An Edinburgh Christmas Experience for 4
Heard the news? OMNi is inviting everyone to get into the festive spirit with an exclusive Christmas Prize Draw.
READ MORE
Dynamic Earth calls for support as Big Give Match Funding opens
Dynamic Earth has launched its 2025 Big Give Christmas Challenge campaign to boost STEM access for young people.
READ MORE
Ring in Hogmanay with darts, dancing, and bottomless pizza
If your New Year's resolution is to have more fun, start early at Flight Club!
READ MORE
Aldi colleague awarded medal from the King after fundraising efforts
An Aldi colleague based in Bathgate has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in recognition of her incredible fundraising efforts, helping to raise almost £50,000 for local charities.
READ MORE
Fort Kinnaird joins forces with local charities to support people who feel lonely at Christmas
New research has revealed one in two people (56 per cent) living in Edinburgh have experienced feelings of loneliness at Christmas.
READ MORE
Celebrate South Asian cinema this December with a selection of releases at Vue
There’s plenty for fans of South Asian cinema to enjoy at Vue this December, with a number of titles heading to the big screen.
READ MORE
Santas little helpers, assemble
Santa Paws, in partnership with Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, is calling out for the city’s dogs to take part in an attempt to break the world record for the most dogs in Christmas jumpers.
READ MORE
The Entertainer opens brand new store in Edinburgh
Britain’s toy shop, The Entertainer, has officially opened a brand-new store at The Gyle Shopping Centre.
READ MORE
Brighten up the nights with the magical Winter Windows
Winter Windows are back at Edinburgh’s Christmas! An arts competition for Edinburgh schoolchildren of all ages, it is an annual showcase of their creativity and skills.
READ MORE
Edinburgh residents encouraged to nominate a charity to receive a festive financial boost
Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards is giving away £120,000 as part of its annual 12 Days of Giving Christmas campaign and nominations are now open.
READ MORE
Volunteer Centre East Lothian reopens just in time for the season of goodwill
The team at Volunteer Centre East Lothian (VCEL) have thrown open their doors after an extensive renovation and are welcoming back local residents, volunteers and community groups.
READ MORE
Newtongrange Primary School pupils reap the benefits of outdoor learning with a newly extended playground
Pupils at a Midlothian school have given their resounding approval to their newly extended playground, which includes access to green space and trim trail equipment.
READ MORE
Fort Kinnaird crowns winner of competition to design labels for homegrown honey
Nine-year-old Elodie from Niddrie Mill Primary School has been named the winner of a recent competition launched by Fort Kinnaird to design a label for the honey produced by its resident beehives.
READ MORE
Name the Loganair Christmas puffin and win a family adventure
Loganair, the UK’s leading regional airline, has launched a new festive competition to name the puffin starring in its emotional Christmas advert.
READ MORE
Edinburghs Hogmanay reveals International Partnership & Artist Exchange Programme with Basque Country
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay today reveals the full line-up for its much-loved First Footin’ programme on New Year’s Day, with a landmark international collaboration led by Valtos topping the bill.
READ MORE
The Main Course: Serving Up a Slice of Italy in the Heart of Gullane this Christmas
Planning a Christmas lunch with colleagues, a family gathering or a relaxed night out with friends? The Main Course offers comfort, warmth and a menu that brings people back year after year.
READ MORE
Hamish Hawk commission comes to life with Edinburgh International Book Festival first ever record release
Edinburgh International Book Festival today announces that Life in a Scotch Sitting-room, Vol. 0, a limited-edition LP by Scottish indie songwriter Hamish Hawk, will be released on 5th December.
READ MORE
SUSHISAMBA Edinburgh unveils New Years Eve event and festive offering
This festive season, SUSHISAMBA Edinburgh is elevating its celebrations with two unforgettable experiences that perfectly capture the spirit of the season.
READ MORE
Vault City launches festive, Quaffable Treats, beer box inspired by Christmas chocolate tins
An Edinburgh brewery has created the 'perfect gift' for beer lovers this Christmas, inspired by the chocolates people hunt for first in the tin.
READ MORE
Red Hot Chilli Pipers headline free weekend of celebrations with Christmas ceilidh and market
The Ross Bandstand sparked festivities on Sunday with its opening Light Night Concert, and now has a jam-packed Scottish weekend in store of free events in honour of St Andrew's Day.
READ MORE
Somewhere by Nico Launches Festive Cocktail Experience
This festive season, Glasgow and Edinburgh relevellers can relive the magic of Christmas past as Somewhere by Nico unveil a brand-new immersive experience!
READ MORE
Zizzi celebrates a fresh era with a new menu and app, by giving 132 people free pasta for one year
Zizzi has introduced a new food & drink menu across all its restaurants, launched a brand-new Zizzi app, and is giving 132 people free pasta for one year.
READ MORE
Festive Season at Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Collection
Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Collection have launched some new offerings designed for memorable Christmas stays, spectacular Hogmanay celebrations, and cozy winter escapes.
READ MORE
Leading the charge! Edinburgh car retailer hosts electric vehicle experience
John Clark Volvo Edinburgh is celebrating after its first EV Customer Experience Evening was a success with local drivers.
READ MORE
Six of the Best: Iconic concerts that rocked Murrayfield as the famous stadium turns 100
Scottish Gas Murrayfield has hosted some of the biggest shows Scotland has ever seen – and fans have had their say on the standouts.
READ MORE
Second year of Urban Forestry Programme opens across Scotland
Community groups, organisations and schools across Scotland are being invited to apply for grants of up to £100,000.
READ MORE
Fire and Ice captivates thousands as Castle of Light opens in spectacular style
Over 4,700 people descended on Edinburgh Castle this weekend as Castle of Light: Fire and Ice officially opened to the public!
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links