The Long Haul to Transylvania: Ryan Carter-Wilson on Rocky Horror’s Enduring Message

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It is a theatrical machine that refuses to rust. Fifty years on, The Rocky Horror Show remains a distinct ecosystem in British theatre: a place where bawdy pantomime meets legitimate rock and roll, and where the audience is as much a part of the blocking as the cast. Currently in the midst of a marathon international tour that stretches well into 2026, the production is careering back towards Edinburgh to see in the New Year.

For the cast, keeping a half-century-old script feeling dangerous rather than museum-grade is the daily grind. For Ryan Carter-Wilson, the current Riff Raff, the return to Edinburgh is not just another stop on the itinerary—it is a victory lap for a performer who began his journey in the “back row” of the Playhouse and cut his teeth with local amateur legends.

From Rubber Chicken to Frank’s Castle

Carter-Wilson’s ascent to the role of the hunchbacked handyman was neither immediate nor accidental. His roots are firmly planted in the local scene, specifically with Dunblane’s superbly named “Rubber Chicken Theatre.”

“I kind of grew up there,” he recalls, citing the company as a formative influence alongside a generation of “very special people that kind of grew up doing theater.”

His relationship with The Rocky Horror Show predates his professional contract. Like many drama students, he had a crack at the corset during university. “We did a Rocky Horror section in uni and I got to play Riff Raff then,” he says. But the leap from a student showcase to the professional touring circuit required a stint in the trenches. Carter-Wilson didn’t walk into the principal cast; he earned his stripes as a Swing—the unsung heroes of musical theatre who must memorize multiple tracks and deploy them at a moment’s notice.

“I was a Swing first, and then I was a Phantom, kind of worked my way up,” he explains. During those years, he covered Eddie, the Narrator, and Dr. Scott. The latter role, usually played by an older actor in a wheelchair, allowed Carter-Wilson to flex his comedic muscles. “I do Dr. Scott in a Scott accent,” he notes. “I got to bring my own twist to all the parts.”

Stepping into the Hump: The Ghost of Riff Raffs Past

When the time came to take over Riff Raff permanently, Carter-Wilson was stepping into a shadow cast by giants—most notably Kristian Lavercombe, who holds the world record for the number of performances in the role.

“I’ve been lucky to cover for some amazing performers… Kristian Lavercombe [was one of] the two last Riff Raffs I’ve kind of covered for,” Carter-Wilson says. Rather than ignoring the precedent, he acknowledges the influence. “In my eyes… [he is] the model. They’re who I envision is what I think of Riff.”

However, mimicry doesn’t work on a long tour. Carter-Wilson has had to find his own frequency to survive the nightly grind. “My Riff is a bit more playful,” he says of his interpretation. “I’ve almost been, like, nurtured into where I am now. I’ve been enabled to develop the tools I need to play this part and to do it well.”

The Chaos of the Rotating Frank

The current tour is notable for its revolving door of star casting in the role of Dr Frank-N-Furter. For the resident company, this means constantly recalibrating the show’s central gravity. Carter-Wilson has served opposite Stephen Webb, Adam Strong, and is currently playing alongside the returning Jason Donovan.

“Jason is madness. He is wild, he’s untamed,” he notes. This instability, he argues, is actually the production’s secret weapon, forcing the cast to stay sharp. “Having so many different Franks coming in, you have to adapt to that… It never feels like the same show and you never know what you’re gonna get.”

When asked to compare how well his leading men walk in heels, Carter-Wilson is diplomatic, insisting that “each bring something different to the part.” He points to the “electric” energy and range of Stephen Webb, contrasting it against the “sleek and powerful” control of Adam Strong, and the chaos of Donovan.

The Skepticism of Small Towns and the Scale of the Playhouse

Life on the road is a strange mix of glamour and grit—Carter-Wilson speaks to me from Warsaw (“I spent the last few days visiting attractions”), but his heart remains with the Scottish leg of the tour. He admits he often has to act as a tour guide and cheerleader for the cast when they approach smaller Scottish venues.

“We went to Dunfermline recently,” he laughs. “A lot of people [in the cast] were like, ‘Oh, why do we want to go to Dunfermline? It’s like this tiny little Scottish town.’ But I was like, ‘Guys, we’re gonna have the best time. It’s a small Scottish town. It’s wonderful.’”

He was, of course, vindicated by the reception. But the upcoming dates at the Edinburgh Playhouse invoke a different kind of feeling. The sheer scale of the 3,000-seat venue can swallow performers whole if they aren’t prepared.

“It’s so vast… I remember standing on stage [last time] and just kind of getting sort of taken aback because it’s just this massive space,” he admits. For him, the view from the stage is the inverse of his childhood memories. “You look up to the very back row in that theater. And I remember sitting up there watching shows with my family when I was younger.”

From the nosebleeds to the laboratory, Carter-Wilson is keenly aware that the show works because of that conversation between the stage and the dark. “The audience is electric,” he says. “The Time Warp starts, [and they’re on] their feet.”

Fifty years in, the fishnets are still holding up.

Featured Image: Ryan Carter-Wilson (Riff Raff). Credit – David Freeman

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The Rocky Horror Show will play the Edinburgh Playhouse between the 6th and 10th of January, 2026. For tickets and more information, click here.

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