'The Rocky Horror Show' lands in Barcelona with Jason Donovan, an 80s icon

BarcelonaThe Rocky Horror Show It's a musical you don't just watch; it's a musical you experience. Since its London premiere in 1973—and also following the 1975 film adaptation starring Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon—it has become a haven for all those who feel different. Audiences attend performances dress up and actively participate by calling out lines of dialogue and responses to the actors. The legendary musical returns this Thursday at the Coliseum Theatre in Barcelona—it was previously performed there in 2023—with a cast of West End actors and actresses and now starring Australian Jason Donovan. The 80s icon, known for playing Scott Robinson in the TV series, returns to the stage. NeighborsJason Donovan takes on the role of Frank-n-Furter, a cross-dressing mad scientist from the planet Transsexual in the Transylvania galaxy. The show runs until November 2nd, with a special performance on Halloween night.

Jason Donovan is known for his television work and pop singing, but he's long had a foot in musical theater. In fact, this isn't the first time the Australian has played the lead in The Rocky Horror ShowHe already did it in 1998, and it was on that production that he met his wife, Angela Malloch, with whom he has three children. "I came to this musical as an actor, and I love its pace and conciseness. It's crazy. I think it's the juxtaposition of the different facets for which the public knows me: it ticks all the boxes. And there aren't many shows that I can do many times a week and still enjoy," Donovan explains. The Rocky Horror Show An innocent college couple, Brad and his fiancée Janet, suffer a car breakdown and end up spending the night in a gloomy mansion ruled by Dr. Frank-n-Furter, who will make them connect with their most hidden desires.

Although Donovan's story with The Rocky Horror Show It's a long story, the actor admits he doesn't have a first memory of when they discovered the musical, which he describes as a "timeless classic" and full of hits, such as Sweet transvestite and The time warp"It's a musical about being different and living your dream. It's about vulnerability and what it means to feel out of place. It's a story that's 50 years old but will survive for decades to come," the former teen idol summarizes. Regarding what musical theater has meant for his career, Donovan is clear: "A lot of hard work." "There's a lot of joy in repetition, as long as you enjoy what you're doing. That's why..." The Rocky Horror Show It's so good for me because I really enjoy it. I've done a lot of shows, and it's tough," he adds.

A show to let loose

One of the distinguishing features of this musical is the audience interaction, which makes them practically another character. In this regard, actors Haley Flaherty and James Bisp, who play Janet and Rad and who have already performed the musical in Barcelona, ​​assure us that the Catalan audience is just as enthusiastic as the one in England. "The last time we were in Barcelona, ​​we realized that the message had reached us here: people knew the songs, they knew they had to respond, and they did so in both Catalan and Spanish. With this musical, when you go on stage, you never know what to expect, and it was a pleasure to see that there was a lot of participation here as well," explains Flaherty. "Sometimes, if people have a bit too much to drink, things get interesting, especially during the Friday or Saturday performances. Unlike actors, who are trained to maintain a certain composure, the audience lets loose, and that's something we're happy about. In other shows, you need to hold back more."