Stage: Punt & Menace
Steve Punt is time warping his way into Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show this Christmas at the Theatre Royal Brighton
Whilst Riff Raff stalks the stage and Rocky rocks out, Steve Punt will be laconically lurking and leering as he takes on the role of narrator. It’s a job that has fallen into some very expert hands in the past so how will Steve be approaching the role in the most iconically scary of modern musicals?
When did you first see The Rocky Horror Show, was it a live production or the movie?
I saw the movie first. I was in Hamburg, on a school trip.
Were you already familiar with the show and of course the songs?
Fairly, but not with the detail of the arrangements and harmonies!
The role of narrator has been played by some big names already, what do you hope to bring to the part? Will you be wearing the traditional velvet smoking jacket or have you an alternative look?
Immense gravitas, and a really nice jacket!
The narrator often ends up in lingerie. Have you ever worn suspenders and stockings before and, if you can tell us, why?
Oddly enough, a friend and I did the Time Warp at my 18th birthday party, in drag.
The narrator carries a huge leather bound tome, do you read the lines or have you learnt them?
I’ve learned them, but the audience participation is tricky to prepare for!
You spend much or your time writing and editing so how much do you still enjoy live performance and of course touring?
It’s what business types call your “core activity”. Comedy only really exists when it has an audience.
The Time Warp, did it come easy to you or do you have two left feet? And on that note can you sing or do you just mouth the words?
I can sing better than I can dance. Especially when surrounded by trained dancers. I will look like an embarrassing dad at a party – which, in a way, I am
The show is legendary, had you ever harboured a desire to be in it? And if so which part?
When I first saw it, I wanted to play Riff-Raff, mostly so I could deliver the line “you’re wet”. But the narrator is the only part I can play without a year of vocal training.
Does this inspire you to do more acting work?
Hopefully. But this country’s full of good actors, so it’s a very crowded market.
Have you met creator Richard O’Brien?
Yes. He was in one of the first scripts I ever wrote, a radio play called Project Santa Claus. I also played him, in a Crystal Maze spoof on the Jasper Carrott show about 25 years ago!
Given a choice which is better, the stage show or the movie?
I love live music. The film is terrific, but there’s something about real drums and live vocals that is unmatchable.
Will you be living in Brighton during the run and if so how do you plan to spend your free time?
I know Brighton fairly well – my grandparents lived in Seaford – but it is Christmas, so I’ll be shuttling up and down a bit to see my family too.
Rocky Horror Show, Thursday 17 Dec – Saturday 2 Jan
www.atgtickets.com/brighton 0844 871 7650
