 Rock
of Ages
by
Chris Arienzo
Arrangements and Orchestrations by Ethan Popp
22nd – 27th June 2026
Cast
Drew
Boley – Harry Bowser
Sherrie
– Phoebe Dann
Lonny
– Daniel Gough
Dennis
Dupree – Phil Spencer
Regina Koontz – Sam Harris
Justice Charlier – Sally
Jolliffe
Stacee Jaxx – Ben
Ionoff
Hertz Klineman – John
Francis
Franz Klineman – Jack
Ives
Ccompany – George
Haughie, Rose Bird, Amy Jolliffe, Emily Carleton, Ellie Chapman, Megan Orton,
Alexandra Newman, Adam Turner, Caroline McCluskey, Gill Halford
Director – James
Harris
Choreographer - Amanda
Wright
Musical
Director –
Daniel Barrie
Production
Manager – Emi
Burrows
Designers –
Steve
Roberts, James Harris, Dik Thacker
Wardrobe –
Saira
Roper
Lighting –
Steve
Roberts
Sound –
Dik
Thacker
Props –
James
Rowlands
Projections
and VFX – Chris Williams
Vocal
Director – Hannah Dodd
Assistant Choreographer – Natasha
Wright
Band
- Isaac Griffiths (Drums), Oscar Francisco (Bass), Ivan Jewel (Keyboards),
Steve Rogers (Rhythm Guitar), Daniel Barrie (Lead Guitar) Photos
by Robert
Warner
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Director's Notes
 First exploding onto Broadway in 2009 like a can of hairspray left too close to a pyrotechnics rig, Rock of Ages quickly became the ultimate love letter to the loud, unapologetic excess of the 1980s. Created by Chris D’Arienzo, the show stitches together a gloriously over-the-top love story with some of the biggest rock anthems ever unleashed upon mankind by bands including Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Poison, Twisted Sister and Europe.
Set on Los Angeles’ legendary Sunset Strip in 1987 — a world of leather trousers, power ballads, questionable life choices and enough hairspray to damage the ozone layer — the story follows wannabe rock god Drew and small-town dreamer Sherrie as they chase fame, fortune and each other through the chaotic world of rock ’n’ roll.
Packed with fourth-wall-breaking comedy, outrageous characters and enough 80s references to fill a branch of Our Price, the show became a worldwide smash hit, spawning international productions, a Las Vegas run and a 2012 Hollywood film adaptation starring Tom Cruise… and, for reasons best known to Hollywood executives of the early 2010s, a monkey.
At its heart, Rock of Ages is both parody and tribute — joyfully sending up the decade while celebrating the music, optimism and rebellious spirit that made it unforgettable. Beneath the big laughs and even bigger guitar solos lies a genuine affection for a time when rock stars ruled the world, MTV still played music videos, and every emotional crisis could apparently be solved with a power ballad and a wind machine.
Bringing this production to life has been an enormous team effort involving a company of nineteen wildly talented, energetic and wonderfully good-humoured performers, backed by an exceptional team of musicians, technicians and backstage heroes who have worked tirelessly to transform the Talisman stage into a full-blown Sunset Strip rock club. It has been a genuine pleasure to work alongside both familiar Talisman faces and performers making their debut on this stage.
I count myself incredibly lucky to have grown up surrounded by the music, films and larger-than-life culture that inspired Rock of Ages. This production has been staged as a genuine love letter to a decade that still occupies a special place in many hearts — something reflected in the continued resurgence of 80s music, fashion and film. It is slightly alarming to realise the show is now set almost 40 years in the past, yet it still feels fresh, funny and strangely familiar. Perhaps that is because, beneath all the spandex and smoke machines, it reminds us of a time when dreams felt enormous, rock stars felt immortal and nobody thought ordering a drink called a “Slippery Nipple” was remotely embarrassing.
This production promises to be loud, bright, energetic and entirely unashamed of itself — rather like Diana Moran, the Green Goddess, after six cans of Tennent’s Super delivering a motivational speech from David Lee Roth. Expect face-melting rock anthems, larger-than-life characters, huge laughs and an evening that should leave you grinning like you’ve just won a backstage pass to a Def Leppard gig in 1987.
Fasten your seatbelts, throw up your devil horns and prepare to be rocked.
James Harris |
