Rocky Horror

By Candace Woodland

It’s incredibly difficult to create theatre without serious government funding. Theatre can’t survive on ticket sales alone . . . or can it? James Bay resident Kelly Hudson may have found the formula. Hudson came to Victoria to study theatre at the Canadian College of Performing Arts. Since graduating from CCPA, she has been a leading cast member in Atomic Vaudeville for almost ten years, has toured Canada with their hit show “Ride the Cyclone”, and has worked with local companies such as Theatre SKAM, Kaleidoscope Theatre, Puente Theatre, SNAFU Dance Theatre, and Blue Bridge Theatre. Most recently she performed in “Lieutenant Nun”, co-produced by Theatre SKAM, SNAFU Dance Theatre, and Puente Theatre. “Lieutenant Nun” was a part of the 2015 Fringe Festival and it won Best Ensemble as well as the coveted Pick of the Fringe award.

Hudson has banned together with local performers Griffin Lea, Candace Woodland, and Sarah Anne Murphy to form their very own company, and produce a very particular event: "The Rocky Horror Show: LIVE". In 2014, they created Rebel Knock Out Productions, inspired by a lyric in the opening song of “The Rocky Horror Show” itself. The brand new company, affectionately nicknamed RKO, is determined to present high quality musical theatre that is gritty, energizing, and unconventional.

The fall of 2014 saw an unprecedented amount of support for this new local company. RKO used the website “Indiegogo” to raise over $5000 from excited fans who couldn’t wait to see their favourite cult classic film performed live. Bolstered by the success of their fundraiser, RKO put on eight sold out shows at The Metro Studio Theatre. They encouraged the audience to scream, sing and dance along with the iconic characters on stage. Reviewers raved about the show, and audience members loved the experience of being so involved. The show was such a success that RKO has decided to produce it again, and this year they are making it bigger, brighter, and better. RKO Productions may just have started a new Halloween tradition in Victoria.

For this year’s production of “The Rocky Horror Show”, RKO has added two more performances to accommodate their large audiences. Britt Small will be directing the show again this year, and the cast and crew could not be happier. Small is arguably Victoria’s most exciting director, and her shows are often lauded as being fun, energetic, and totally accessible. RKO has also decided to launch another Indiegogo campaign to help them reach their new goals, titled “Help RKO Do the Time Warp...Again!”. They are offering perks such as signed pictures, signed posters, shout-outs on social media and in the program, and even tickets to the show! 

This fall, take a chance on a small, local theatre company, full of artists who are passionate enough to continue to create theatre despite significant cuts to government funding for the arts, and check out "The Rocky Horror Show: LIVE", October 22nd to 31st at The Metro Studio Theatre. 

Indiegogo: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-rko-do-the-time-warp-again

Tickets: www.ticketrocket.co