Rocky Horror star to go up down under
Richard O’Brien’s much-loved Rocky Horror Picture Show character Riff Raff is to be immortalised on the other side of the world, it emerged today.
A bronze statue of the cult film’s bent-backed butler, complete with high heels and fishnet tights, is to be erected outside a New Zealand theatre.
The creator of the 1975 Rocky Horror Picture Show, who grew up in Gloucestershire, came up with the idea for the musical while working as a barber in the northern city of Hamilton.
O’Brien, 62, thought up the script while watching films at the former Embassy Theatre in Victoria Street, where the statue will stand.
Ratepayers in the city will contribute towards the statue of Riff Raff, to be created by Weta Productions, the company behind the special props for the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Hamilton Councillor Pippa Mahood said the statue would provide significant economic opportunities for the city.
“In terms of arts and culture and I believe it will certainly result in additional visitors to the city over the years to come,” she said.
The council said the statue would be in place before the end of the year.
O’Brien, who also presented the Channel Four hit show The Crystal Maze and played the childcatcher in the hit West End musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, is reportedly “delighted” with the tribute.
