“A riotous, intergenerational baptism into pure theatrical joy”
After six visits to The Rocky Horror Show over the years, you’d think I’d know every beat, every callback, every pelvic thrust. And yet, the 2026 tour’s arrival at the New Theatre proves once again that Richard O’Brien’s cult masterpiece is a living organism — mutating, misbehaving, and somehow getting wilder with age.
Last night’s performance (Monday) was the most explosive I’ve seen yet: a full‑throttle, glitter‑drenched celebration of chaos, camp, and Cardiff’s unshakeable love for this show.
“This production doesn’t just break the fourth wall — it struts through it in heels.”
A Cast Revving at Full Throttle
The 2026 company is a powerhouse ensemble, and Cardiff felt the benefit. James Bisp (Brad), Haley Flaherty (Janet), and Laura Bird (Magenta/Usherette) — whom I interviewed today following a photo call outside a church on Charles Street — were still buzzing from the audience’s reaction.
They spoke about the bombastic, audacious energy that Cardiff audiences bring: the heckles, the applause, the total lack of hesitation. And they’re right — last night the auditorium felt like a pressure cooker of joy.
“Cardiff doesn’t watch Rocky Horror — it detonates it.”
Bisp’s Brad is a masterclass in buttoned‑up bewilderment; Flaherty’s Janet is a delightfully chaotic revelation; and Bird’s Magenta slinks through the show with delicious menace. Together, they anchor the madness with razor‑sharp timing and genuine affection for the material.
A New Generation Joins the Party
One of the most striking things about this run is the audience itself. Families, first‑timers, teenagers in corsets and fishnets, parents in lab coats, grandparents doing the Time Warp like they’ve been waiting all year.
Seeing new generations inducted into the Rocky family — wide‑eyed, exhilarated, and instantly hooked — is a reminder of why this show endures.
“Rocky Horror isn’t just a musical; it’s a rite of passage.”
And Cardiff embraces that rite with open arms and open throats (for shouting, obviously).
Still the Boldest Bash in Town
Under Christopher Luscombe’s direction, the show remains a tight, glitter‑slicked machine. The classics land with full force:
Sweet Transvestite roars
Dammit Janet charms
Time Warp brings the house down (as always)
The production’s longevity — 50+ years and counting — makes perfect sense when you’re in a room like last night’s. It’s communal, cathartic, and utterly unhinged in the best possible way.
“Few shows can turn a Monday night into a full‑scale cultural event — Rocky Horror does it effortlessly.”
The Cast on Cardiff
During today’s interviews, all three performers spoke about how Cardiff’s audiences are uniquely fearless:
James Bisp: thrilled by the “no‑holds‑barred” heckles
Haley Flaherty: delighted by the “riotous, rolling laughter”
Laura Bird: energised by the “wall of sound” that hit them from the first entrance
Their affection for the city was genuine — and well earned.
“Cardiff doesn’t just get the joke — it becomes part of it.”
Copyright Chris J Birch / The Edit Wales
Final Verdict
The 2026 tour of The Rocky Horror Show is a triumphant, turbo‑charged reminder of why this musical refuses to fade. Cardiff’s opening night was a party, a pilgrimage, and a promise that this show will outlive us all.
“A glitter‑soaked, genre‑bending, intergenerational explosion of pure theatre.”
If you’ve never been — go. If you’ve been before — go again. If you think you’ve seen everything Rocky Horror can offer — Cardiff will prove you wrong.