Return to the Forbidden Planet

Shakespeare’s forgotten rock ‘n’ roll musical

Return to the Forbidden Planet

Bob Carlton directs a revival of his Olivier Award-winning rock ‘n’ roll musicalReturn to the Forbidden Planet at the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, playing from 25 August - 22 September.

Celebrating 30 years since its creation, this special anniversary production reunites some of the original West End cast, alongside cut to the chase…, the Queen’s permanent ensemble of actor-musicians. Rocky Horror Show legend Richard O’Brien also appears in a surprise cameo role!

Return to the Forbidden Planet is inspired by the 1956 sci-fi B-movie Forbidden Planet - itself based on The Tempest with a twist of Freudian psychoanalysis! Bob Carlton’s creation, written in blank verse, adds to the mix a delightfully unlikely blend of rock ‘n’ roll hits from the ‘50s and ‘60s and a comical take on Shakespeare’s greatest quotes!

As the first major musical to popularise the actor-musician ensemble, the show includes cosmic classics from The Animals, The Beach Boys, Chuck Berry,Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and many more! All of which are played live on stage by cut to the chase…, swapping a multitude of instruments between each other in a glorious musical relay!

Since its humble beginnings at London’s Bubble Theatre, Return to the Forbidden Planet has been on an incredible journey, going on to beat Miss Saigon to win an Olivier Award for Musical of the Year in 1989/1990. It ran for four years in the West End, was nominated for two Outer Critics’ Circle Awards in New York and has delighted hundreds of thousands across the world, amassing a loyal cult following.

Dashing Captain Tempest and his flight officers take audiences on an exciting interplanetary adventure into hyperspace, where they meet mad scientist Prospero, his beautiful daughter Miranda and Ariel, the amazing rock ‘n’ roller-skating robot. Battling asteroid storms and faulty Photon Shields, does this motley crew ever discover Prospero’s mysterious X Factor formula? And can they escape the Monster from the Id?

The cast includes Richard O’Brien with cut to the chase… members James Earl Adair, Simon Jessop, Greg Last, Jane Milligan, Natasha Moore, Sean Needham, Mark Newnham and Fredrick “Frido” Ruth.

Return to the Forbidden Planet is directed by original creator and Queen’s Theatre Artistic Director Bob Carlton, with design by Rodney Ford, musical supervision and arrangements by Julian Littman, musical direction by Greg Last, lighting design by Mark Dymock, sound design by Rick Clarke, choreography byFredrick “Frido” Ruth and audiovisual design by Ken Telford.

Return to the Forbidden Planet is at the Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane,Hornchurch from 25 August - 22 September. Tickets are £17.50 - £25.50. To book, call the Box Office on

01708 443333 or book online at www.queens-theatre.co.uk