Some productions entertain politely. Others grab you by the collar, pull you into their world, and refuse to let go. The Rocky Horror Show at Theatre on the Bay is gloriously the latter, a thrilling, fun and unapologetically outrageous night of theatre that feels as much like a celebration as it does a performance.
Presented by Pieter Toerien Productions, the iconic cult musical returns to Theatre on the Bay with all the wild energy, irreverent humour, and rock ’n’ roll rebellion that has made it a global phenomenon for decades. Running in Cape Town until 31 May 2026, this production is a bold invitation to step outside convention and into pure theatrical liberation.
The story follows Brad and Janet, an innocent, conventional couple whose lives are turned upside down when a storm-stranded detour leads them to the mysterious castle of Dr Frank-N-Furter. What begins as a search for help quickly becomes a surreal descent into seduction, experimentation and self-discovery, where identity is fluid and nothing remains untouched by the strange new world they enter.
At the centre of it all is Craig Urbani as Frank-N-Furter, delivering an outstanding, magnetic performance that dominates the stage with charisma, control and unapologetic showmanship, fully embracing the character’s decadent, sexually charged bravado and the seductive stagecraft that drives the entire narrative. Urbani’s Frank-N-Furter is both commanding and dangerously playful, anchoring the chaos while heightening its excess with precision and flair. Léa Blerk as Janet Weiss gives a beautifully judged performance, charting Janet’s journey from wide-eyed innocence into liberated self-awareness with humour and emotional clarity, allowing her transformation to unfold naturally within the show’s increasingly provocative and liberated world. Robert Everson as Brad Majors is sharply comedic and consistently engaging, capturing Brad’s rigid certainty as it gradually unravels into bewilderment, discomfort and comic panic, providing essential contrast to the production’s anarchic energy. In stark counterpoint, Schoemann Smit as Riff Raff is eerily otherworldly and quietly unsettling, embodying the character with a controlled, almost spectral presence that builds tension through stillness, precision and an uncanny sense of detachment from the human chaos around him. Jasmine Minter as Magenta delivers a striking, layered performance, initially obedient and controlled within the strange hierarchy of the castle, yet always laced with a cheeky, provocative edge that hints at what lies beneath. As the story unfolds, she reveals herself as playful, sexy and knowingly mischievous, shifting between restraint and flirtatious rebellion with ease. There is a teasing intelligence in her presence, and a sense that she is never entirely contained by the world she appears to serve, which adds both tension and allure to every moment she is on stage. And then there is William Young as Rocky, a crowd-pleasing burst of physicality and charm whose exuberant, instinctively magnetic stage presence draws immediate audience reaction, adding humour, sensuality and a playful, almost innocent spectacle that heightens the show’s overtly sexual and celebratory energy.
Across the board, each performance is outstanding. Every performer commits fully to the heightened, stylised world of the show, embracing its camp sensibility while maintaining precision and control. The entire ensemble demonstrates exceptional physical agility and endurance, moving and dancing with near-acrobatic precision, maintaining relentless energy and control throughout the production’s demanding pace.
The production is also driven by its iconic musical numbers, instantly recognisable and eagerly anticipated by the audience. Songs such as Sweet Transvestite, Dammit Janet, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me, and of course Time Warp ignite the theatre, with audiences enthusiastically joining in throughout. Let’s Do the Time Warp Again in particular becomes a full ‘moment’ – part performance, part ritual – where the line between stage and audience dissolves completely.
But it is the central characters – Frank-N-Furter, Janet, Brad, Riff Raff, Magenta and Rocky – who collectively elevate this production into something truly unforgettable. Each performance is distinct, confident and deeply attuned to the spirit of the piece.
The Rocky Horror Show is more than theatre – it is an experience of release. Inclusive, electric and gloriously unrestrained, it invites the audience not just to watch, but to surrender to its world completely. Bold, brazen and brilliantly executed, it leaves you exhilarated long after the final bow.
Where: Theatre on the Bay, Camps Bay
When: until 31 May 2026
You don’t want to miss this one! Buy tickets here.