Richard O'Brien returns to New Zealand with new musical, 'The Kingdom of Bling'

Fifty years ago The Rocky Horror Show, one of the most successful musicals ever written, took to the stage and has played almost continuously since then to a claimed 30 million people in 30 countries and even more when you take the movie version into account.

Now its creator, Richard O’Brien, has produced a new play for the times.

Whereas the Rocky Horror Show reflected the gender-bending, glam-rock era of the early '70s, his new work, The Kingdom of Bling, is a reaction to the divisive, conspiracy-fuelled, polarised politics of today.

“The Kingdom of Bling is a satirical fairy tale,” O’Brien said at the nationwide launch for the musical in Auckland. “I was driven to write it by the dreadfulness of Donald Trump’s presence in the world.

“I just wanted to write something disparaging that was entertaining at the same time and take us on a fairy tale… there’s a dark edge to fairy tales and it couldn’t get any darker than, than Mr Trump’s presence in the world.”

The 40-minute show draws from fairytales like Peter and the Wolf and more fantastical stories like Alice in Wonderland, O’Brien said.

O’Brien stars as The Narrator alongside and ensemble of extraordinary characters – giants, a menacing fox, trolls, and the king - the obnoxious ‘The He’ (no prizes for guessing who that is).

And it’s all driven along with O’Brien’s trademark operatic rock style that made Rocky Horror such a hit.

O’Brien laments the world of today and the lack of community in our society.

“We don’t know our neighbours the way we used to, people aren’t going to the shops the same way,” he said. “We’re living our individual lives, fragmented lives and that’s not, that’s not healthy for society.

“I want New Zealand to come together as a happy community and, not have these divisions.”

Being true to his principles, O’Brien is donating all royalties from this show to the Starship Children’s Hospital in perpetuity.

The Kingdom of the Bling starts its world tour of New Zealand in Ashburton in October and plays all around the country.

Tickets are on sale through Ticketek, Ticketmaster, Eventfinda and local agents.

This article was first published by Alex Robertson for the NZ Herald and is republished here with edits and permission.