Rock of Ages

Elysian Theatre Company's production of Rock of Ages delivered a fun-filled, energetic evening of musical theatre, packed with strong performances, excellent vocals and plenty of laughs.

One of the production's greatest strengths was its inventive use of The Wynd's expansive converted church interior. The open space was transformed by a central raised steel structure, with creative wing areas around it. This allowed performers to enter and exit from multiple directions, maintaining momentum throughout and giving the production a dynamic, immersive feel that made full use of the venue. The lighting design was equally effective, creating atmosphere while successfully highlighting both intimate solo moments and larger ensemble scenes. The balance between concert-style energy and theatrical storytelling was handled particularly well.

The ensemble may have been small in number, but they delivered tremendous energy and commitment throughout. Their ability to portray multiple characters, alongside strong vocals and enthusiastic choreography, added greatly to the production's success.

The principal cast brought real heart and warmth to the production, each showing clear dedication to their roles through strong characterisation, accents, physicality and consistently impressive vocals in both solos and duets. Leading the company was Sophie McLean as narrator Lonny, who delivered a truly magnetic performance. From her very first entrance she completely won over the audience, filling the stage with infectious energy, sharp wit and effortless audience interaction. Her ability to move between narration and direct engagement with both cast and crowd felt completely natural, and she anchored the show with charisma, humour and a constant sense of fun. Alexis Benson gave a wonderfully warm and engaging performance as Cherry, bringing a lovely balance of sweetness and sass to the role. Her stage presence was easy and likeable, and her powerhouse vocals shone throughout with real confidence and control. Jamie Porter made an excellent Drew, delivering both strong emotional connection and impressive vocal performances. His live guitar playing added an authentic, lived-in feel to his character and elevated his musical moments even further. John Munro was hugely entertaining as Dennis, fully committing to the laid-back hippy energy with great charm and comedic timing. His light-hearted performance, including the memorable illuminated wings and halo moment, brought plenty of laughter from the audience. Holly Killin gave a confident and controlled performance as Justice, delivering smooth, powerful vocals packed with effortless riffs, soulful inflections and excellent vocal control. Her relaxed stage presence perfectly suited the character and made her musical moments particularly memorable. Kathryn Johnstone was a real highlight as Regina, combining sharp comedy with strong character work and outstanding vocals. Her timing and delivery were spot on, and she brought a brilliantly bold and entertaining energy to every scene she appeared in. John Trevor Hughes gave a strong and assured performance as Hertz, convincingly balancing the character’s more villainous edge with a satisfying and well-judged softening later in the show. Gareth Williams was a joy as Franz, bringing real comic flair and warmth to the role, while Martyn Simpson leaned fully into the cheeky, sleazy rock-star energy of Stacee Jaxx, delivering plenty of humour and stage presence throughout.

Overall, this was a vibrant and highly entertaining production that captured the spirit of Rock of Ages brilliantly. Credit must go to the production team of Rebekah, Andrew and Stephanie, whose work helped create a dynamic and enjoyable show that showcased the talents of the cast and ensemble throughout.

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