Jason Donovan is returning to one of his most iconic roles—Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show—more than 25 years after he first donned the corset and heels. As the cult musical celebrates its 50th anniversary, Donovan's reappearance in the fishnet stockings is not merely theatrical nostalgia; it’s personal, powerful, and deeply rooted in his own story of transformation.
“In a nutshell, I’m a fan,” Donovan explains. “I love the show; I love the music; I love the character.” His rekindled passion for the production was ignited during his own solo tour five years ago, when he performed the show-stopping number Sweet Transvestite. “It went down a storm,” he recalls. The performance sparked an email to veteran producer Howard Panter, expressing interest in joining the anniversary production. That led to performances in Sydney and Melbourne, and now, a major UK tour.
A Theatrical Milestone
The Rocky Horror Show, created by Richard O’Brien, is a riotous homage to mid-century science fiction and horror B-movies. First staged at London’s Royal Court Theatre on June 19, 1973, it became an international phenomenon, performed in over 20 languages and seen by more than 30 million people. The plot follows a strait-laced couple whose car trouble leads them into the world of Frank-N-Furter, a flamboyant scientist who creates a perfect specimen of man—Rocky—in a Frankenstein-style experiment.
Despite the passing decades, Donovan feels no discomfort returning to the role at 56. Quite the opposite. “Of course, I have personal reasons for being grateful to the show,” he says.
A Life Reimagined
It was during a 1990s tour of Rocky Horror that Donovan met Angela Malloch, then a stage manager. “I’d be backstage waiting to go on and I’d get chatting to Ange,” he says. A relationship blossomed, briefly faltered, and then took a serious turn when Malloch became pregnant.
“She gave me an ultimatum,” Donovan recalls. “If the relationship had any chance of working—and if I was going to have any involvement in the life of our child—I would have to give up the self-indulgent lifestyle of the 90s and take greater control of my life. And I did.”
That decision marked a pivotal transformation. The couple married in 2008 and now have three children: Jemma, 25, an actress; Zac, 24, a television producer; and Molly, 14, still at school.
An Artist Evolving
From soap opera heartthrob on Neighbours to pop sensation and West End lead, Donovan’s career has been impressively versatile. He has taken on roles as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and the drag queen Mitzi in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, among others. Yet it is Frank-N-Furter who occupies a unique place in his artistic identity.
“One of the reasons I love Rocky is because it’s a short show,” Donovan says with a smile. “It says everything it needs to say and nothing more. There’s no unnecessary padding. You leave them wanting more.”
Playing Frank also allows Donovan to tap into something primal. “I’m in touch with my feminine side but I come from a masculine sensibility. The character embraces both: a strength and a vulnerability, as well as danger and denial. When I put on those high heels, I become that rock ’n’ roll star. It makes me feel powerful, tall, in charge.”
Surviving the Strain of the Stage
At 56, Donovan approaches the physical demands of the role with pragmatism. “I spend a lot more time in physio these days—something I’ve put into my contract!” Touring life also requires discipline. “I swim, I ride my bike, I stretch, I steam—pretty much daily,” he says. “I don’t go to the gym. I’m not interested in lifting weights. Mental health and physical fitness go hand-in-hand for me.”
Diet and wellness are equally measured. “I seem to burn fat naturally, but at my age, you’re in sniper’s alley—you start dodging bullets: arthritis here, failing eyesight there,” he laughs. “If I take off my glasses, I can’t tell whether the bottle is shampoo or conditioner!”
Vocally, too, he’s evolved. “My vocals were never my strongest point back in the day, but I’ve worked hard. Over 30 years, I’ve strengthened my vocal cords like any other muscle. Rocky now plays to my strengths—it’s less musical theatre, more edgy. More me, really.”
Balancing Act
The upcoming UK tour will see Donovan perform in cities including Manchester, Leeds, Swansea, Wimbledon, and Dublin. Despite the demands, he keeps it in perspective. “On tour, I wake up a little later. There are no domestic chores—no trimming ivy or doing the washing,” he jokes. “And I’m a seasoned pro at locating the nearest M&S.”
He maintains a strict rule of returning home regularly. “I try not to do more than three or four weeks away at a time. But if I want to play Frank—and I do—I’ve got to travel. It comes with the territory.”
Alongside Rocky Horror, Donovan continues his Doin’ Fine 25 concert tour, a celebration of his 35-year career. Still, it’s clear where his passion currently lies. “As long as I have my family and my health, as long as I have a good life/work balance, I’m happy,” he says. “I like to think I work to live—not the other way around.”
For tour dates and tickets: visit RockyHorror.co.uk
