Jason Donovan is making a hotly-anticipated return to one of his most famous roles as The Rocky Horror Show launches a brand new Hampshire venue. 

The celebrated actor and singer will play Frank-N-Furter at Fareham Live from Monday (September 30) to Saturday October 5, including a gala night on Tuesday.

It's part of a new world tour for Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical.

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Jason said: "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 in an extensive UK tour which will prove a seminal moment in the history of Fareham.

Having been seen by over 35 million theatregoers, The Rocky Horror Show is the story of two squeaky clean college kids – Brad and his fiancée Janet. When by a twist of fate, their car breaks down outside a creepy mansion whilst on their way to visit their former college professor, they meet the charismatic Dr Frank’n’Furter. It is an adventure they’ll never forget, filled with fun, frolics, frocks, and frivolity. 

The Rocky Horror Show is a huge party and includes timeless classics, including Sweet Transvestite, Dammit Janet and of course, the pelvic thrusting show-stopping Time Warp. 

(Image: David Freeman)

How does Jason feel about tackling the iconic role over 25 years later?

“To be honest, I can’t really remember much about 1998 but that’s another story," he said. I don’t feel uncomfortable, though, playing him 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, who would become his wife of 16 years, who he credits with saving him, and the mother of his three children. 

Tickets for the show are available at trafalgartickets.com