Basques, suspenders, kinky pinnies and a promise to have my cherry popped featured in the various bumf on The Rocky Horror Show.

So it was with trepidation that I strolled up to the Theatre Royal for my virgin visit.

It was a fear I shared with the show's characters, Janet and Brad, as they nervously made their way to the mansion of Transylvanian Transvestite, Frank'n'Furter, for a journey of transplanetary, transsexual exploration.

This is the show synonymous with its creator, Richard O'Brien of Channel 4's Crystal Maze fame, and is the personification of all his weirdness.

Eerie phantoms and hunchback servants are mixed up with gratuitous groping scenes, sparkly transsexual splendour and more than a touch of bawdy vaudeville reminiscent of the Lost Vagueness festival.

Songs such as the infamous TimeWarp, Don't Dream It, Be It and Dammit Janet sung by a gang of perfectly cast misfits had the whole crowd wondering where to look and listen through this bombardment of the senses.

In particular, sweet transvestite Frank, played by David Bedella from Jerry Springer the Opera, was delectable in high heels, sequinned basque and protruding satin pouch.

Michael Aspel as the narrator in his gold suit was inspired - his authoritarian tones mixed with witticisms.

"What further indignities lay in store for them?" he asked. "This Is Your Life?" a brave joker from the audience ventured.

Beautiful, sweet Suzanne Shaw of HearSay fame, was believable in this entirely unbelievable fantasy adventure as a good girl turned bad when she discovers the sins of the flesh with naughty Frank and hunky Rocky.

Since the Seventies, this macabre romp has evolved from a wacky screenplay to an interactive duel where the audience has become almost as important as the actors.

Something for the weekend? Absolutely.