A new theatre group in Sudbury is adding even more theatrical flair to the Rocky Horror Picture Show screening this weekend. Jonathan spoke to Miranda Mcleod, Trinity Thibeault, and Blaine Thorton about their upcoming production.
A new theatre company in Sudbury will be doing the time warp again, and again, with three ‘shadowcast’ performances of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
The 1975 cult classic film is a mainstay at independent cinemas where audience participation is encouraged.
Mooncrater Theatre is taking that idea a step further with shadowcast performances at the Sudbury Indie Cinema.
‘”A shadowcast is something that happens alongside the film,” said Blaine Thorton, the founder of Mooncrater Theatre.
“So behind the actors is the film Rocky Horror playing. And right in front of them, all the actors are going to be reenacting what is happening on screen.”
Thornton said they first saw the movie when they were in Grade 5.
“I was pretty young when I watched it for the first time, and I hadn’t figured out I was queer quite yet,” Thorton said.
“When I was watching that film, I think it was like my first time really witnessing someone who played with gender in an experimental way.”
Thorton said Mooncrater uses a mix of professional and amateur actors.
“Often in community theatre, artists are expected to do things for free and it’s volunteer, but everyone who’s part of the cast and the crew are all paid for their time,” they said.
Trinity Thibeault, the show’s director, said it’s been a collaborative effort putting the show together.
“The team that we have is so excited and so passionate. So it’s really easy when everyone is so excited to do it as well,” she said.
Miranda MacLeod, the Sudbury Indie Cinema’s lead programmer, said a live performance of this type is a first for the theatre.
“I can run the films, I can book events, I can do that. But getting a group of people and having them trained up to be part of the film, we’ve never done that,” MacLeod said.
“We did do Nosferatu with live music accompaniment, but that’s the closest.”
The Rocky Horror Picture Show shadowcast premiered on Friday, with two more performances planned on Saturday.