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RHPS at The Royal Albert Hall 2015 - The 40th Anniversary screening
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Rocky Horror Picture Show @ Royal Albert Hall 2015 Tuesday, October 27th, 2015 saw thousands of Rocky Horror fans decend on the Royal Albert Hall for what was billed as the 40th Anniversary screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The night was made that little bit more special by the announcement that Patricia Quinn, Nell Campbell and Susan Sarandon would be taking part in a question and answer session introduced by the actor Rufus Hound. Unfortunately Susan was unable to make the night, but Pat and Nell were there to the delight of the audience.

There had also been advertised a "performance of the Time Warp from several very lucky competition winners", taken from a competition taking place at Blackpool's Winter Gardens called the "Time Warp Dance Festival". In the end this didn't happen, instead there was a group of drag queens to escort guests along the red carpet and also to (try) to do the Time Warp on stage during the movie. They also jumped up on stage during the floor show and did some rather explicit grinding until they were usherred off the stage by the venue staff. We get the impression that whoever suggested the drag queens didn't quite get what Rocky Horror is about, it was rather like having a load of people dressed up as nurses for a Doctor Who event. It was a great opportunity for some fan participation missed, we later learnt of at least one fan performing cast that had offered to do the show for free and been turned down. The show was also promoted as being screened live to 600 cinemas across the UK, but instead they recorded it to screen at a later date with edited versions of the Q&A to be included.

Before the movie we had the interviews with Pat and Nell, answering questions that audience members had been asked to email in ahead of time. This was great for those of us in the front rows, but as others remarked, not so good for those further back in this huge hall. It would have been great just to have a camera relaying Pat and Nells image to the huge screen above them for those in the back of the hall. There was a wonderful surprise however for the audience, when a video recording of Tim Curry sending his best wishes to us all was broadcast on the big screen. Lovely to see Tim looking better and a fitting tribute from him to the fans that love the movie so much.

The actual screening was once more on the massive screen the Albert Hall have, video projected from the back of the hall. Some mentioned the sound could have been better from their seats, but down in the stalls/floor, all seemed fine.

One huge complaint from many fans was the fact that they screened the American version of the movie, missing the song "Superheroes" that we have had in the UK verison in our cinemas since the 1992 Transylvania conventions. We never did hear back as to whether this was an oversight or if it was deliberate to show the wrong version.

Loads of people dressed up for the night, resplendent in their Rocky costumes and it was nice to see both Rayner Bourton and Michael White in the audience as well.

Tickets were £22.90 to £33.65 (more for boxes, etc.) and a special meet and great package was also available for £168 (inc ticket to the movie) to go backstage with Patricia and Nell.

Overall, a fun night, but it could have been a lot more fan centred for what was meant to be THE 40th anniversary U.K. screening.

Galleries of images from the night - images online 12       Queued/Previewed 0 (Thumbnails only at this time)

Click for Gallery
Pete F

4 images

Click for Gallery
Debbie & Nikki

8 images

If you would like to send us some images to include here on the timewarp.org.uk site please email them to RAH2015@timewarp.org.uk and we will add them to our galleries.

The original official press release for the screening................

From the official press release................

Let's do the Time Warp again...on stage at the Royal Albert Hall

DO you have what it takes to do the Time Warp in front of 5,000 people?

That's what the Royal Albert Hall wants to know, as the iconic venue stages a gala screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, to celebrate the movie's 40th anniversary.

The special, one-off event promises fun, frolics and frivolity, and will include an on-stage Q&A with members of the cast, and a performance of the Time Warp from several very lucky competition winners.

Lucy Noble, Director of Events at the Hall, said: "Rocky Horror is a cult phenomenon like no other, and we can't wait to welcome cast members and fans alike to this very special, one-off celebration of a deliciously twisted confection.

"It's set to be an unforgettable evening for everyone involved, though for one group of fans in particular, there's a truly unique opportunity - the opportunity to do the Time Warp on the world's most famous stage, in front of 5,000 people."

The show will also be broadcast live to more than 600 cinemas across the country - a first for the Royal Albert Hall.

From 4-6 September, Blackpool's Winter Gardens will hold the Time Warp Dance Festival, with the winning contestants invited to perform on stage at the Royal Albert Hall.

The contest is open to any and all formation dance teams and will be judged by the stars of the movie, with the winners joining them after the screening for the 40th anniversary party.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show comes to the Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday 27 October. The beloved comedy horror musical, written by Richard O'Brien and based on his hit West End play, stars Barry Bostwick and Oscar-winning Susan Sarandon as newly engaged couple Brad and Janet, who take refuge in a castle run by flamboyant transvestite Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry), resulting in sex, spoofery and a host of unforgettable songs, from Time Warp to Sweet Transvestite to Hot Patootie, and many more.

This riotous, uproarious and hilarious ride is packed with comedy, campiness and cross-dressing, and fully deserving of its classic status. Nearly 40 years on from its release, the film is firmly established as both a critical and popular favourite.

Empire's Adam Smith called it "simply a cult classic. See it once and laugh about it at dinner parties for the rest of your adult life. Or go along to the interactive viewings, dress up, and sing along. It's your call."

TV Guide said: "The film itself is a lot of fun -- but the audience-participation phenomenon has turned it into a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience", while Andy Tweddle of Little White Lies recently wrote: "Everybody absolutely loves it ... this gaudy pastiche of B-movie science fiction and horror is a musical like no other and its iconic status is totally deserved."

The screening is a co-promotion between the Royal Albert Hall and Apollo Digital.

Wednesday, October 14th, 2015


From the official press release announcing Susan Sarandon................

Susan Sarandon confirmed
for Rocky Horror bash

Hollywood legend Susan Sarandon will join the special, one-off 40th anniversary Rocky Horror party at the Royal Albert Hall next month for an exclusive on-stage Q&A.

The Oscar-winning star of Rocky Horror, Thelma & Louise and Dead Man Walking will be joined by fellow cast members Patricia Quinn and Nell Campbell at the world's biggest Rocky Horror bash, with more than 5,000 fans expected to attend.

Lucy Noble, Director of Events at the Royal Albert Hall, said: "This is amazing news – we were already hugely excited about staging the 40th anniversary gala screening of this cult classic at the Hall, but having a Hollywood superstar on stage will make it that bit more special.

"We can't wait to hear Susan, Patricia and Nell talking about their amazing careers and sharing their memories of working on the incredible, unique Rocky Horror Picture Show. It's an evening no fan will want to miss."

The beloved comedy horror musical, written by Richard O'Brien and based on his hit West End play, stars Barry Bostwick and Oscar-winning Susan Sarandon as newly engaged couple Brad and Janet, who take refuge in a castle run by flamboyant transvestite Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry), resulting in sex, spoofery and a host of unforgettable songs, from Time Warp to Sweet Transvestite to Hot Patootie, and many more.

This riotous, uproarious and hilarious ride is packed with comedy, campiness and cross-dressing, and fully deserving of its classic status. Nearly 40 years on from its release, the film is firmly established as both a critical and popular favourite.

To buy tickets, go to www.royalalberthall.com

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