YOU'D think that a musical that has run for 36 years and is an annual fixture in most major cities somewhere in the world, might have become a little stale by 2009.

But the Rocky Horror Show really hasn't.

My son was somewhat taken aback - despite warnings that many of the audience would be dressed in women's undies (epsecially the blokes) - when we arrived at a nearby multi-storey car park to find one young man on his way to the theatre wearing a pair of tight gold lame hotpants. And nothing else.

The strange sights at a Rocky Horror performance are not only expected, but help to make the musical the phenomenon it is.

But, a welcome added dimension was having Bolton comedian Dave Spikey as the narrator, a canny bit of casting which ensured laughs from the start.

Spikey did what he does best and wandered on stage, read his lines, then improvised with some very funny asides and jokes, firing ripostes back at the compulsory heckles from the enthusiastic audience.

The cast was superb in all the familiar roles and David Bedella, in particular, made an excellent Frank 'N' Furter, with a physical resemblence to the original movie's star Tim Curry which bordered on the uncanny.

You could, of course, consider how relevant the show's theme of pursuing pleasure at all costs, without consideration for anyone else, is incredibly pertinent in today's society.

The fact is, however, that it's just a cracking show with some super songs (Sweet Transvestite, Dammit Janet, Hot Patootie - Bless My Soul, Over at the Frankenstein Place and, of course, the Time Warp).

So, why bother with analysis when you can just jump to the left, then take a step to the right, while standing next to a 16 stone hairy student in a basque, stockings and size 12 platform shoes?

Fantastically filthy fun.

Runs until Saturday