IS it just an excuse to dress up in a pair of fishnets or is there a more compelling reason for doing the Time Warp with a group of transvestites?

The Rocky Horror Show landed in Malvern on Monday with an explosion of sound, colour and thigh grabbing excitement that almost blew the top off the theatre (and literally did blow one of the curtains off its rails at the opening performance).

If you have never been to the show then be warned - it is a performance that demands its audience's full attention, to the extent that if you don't take a step to the left, put your hands on your hips and do the pelvic thrust you, might as well just stay at home and watch The Bill.

The show begins with a raunchy, whip slashing exhibition by four "phantoms" who make the rounds of the audience, encouraging acts of debauchery and generally "arousing" the crowd in anticipation of Richard O'Brian's story of a fall from innocence into the delights of corruption.

The audience is a crucial part of the cult show and many people take the opportunity to "out" their kinky fantasies and don suspender belts, leather basques and corsets and enter into the true spirit of the performance by shouting out retorts and expletives during the show.

The actors, and especially narrator Nicholas Parsons, take these interruptions in their stride, used to the interaction and replying with witty confidence.

If you can let yourself go, lose your inhibitions and submit yourself to the gloriously intoxicating mixture of sex, horror and rock and roll you should have a fantastic time at this show.

The Rocky Horror Show runs until tomorrow (Saturday).

Kate Williams