<P> Richard O'Brien was living as an unemployed actor in London during the early 1970s . He wrote most of The Rocky Horror Show during one winter just to occupy himself . Since his youth, O'Brien had loved science fiction and B horror movies . He wanted to combine elements of the unintentional humour of B horror movies, portentous dialogue of schlock - horror, Steve Reeves muscle flicks, and fifties rock and roll into his musical . O'Brien conceived and wrote the play set against the backdrop of the glam era that had manifested itself throughout British popular culture in the 1970s . Allowing his concept to come into being, O'Brien states "glam rock allowed me to be myself more". </P> <P> O'Brien showed a portion of the unfinished script to Australian director Jim Sharman, who decided to direct it at the small experimental space Upstairs at the Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, Chelsea, London, which was used as a project space for new work . O'Brien had appeared briefly in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar, directed by Sharman, and the two also worked together in Sam Shepard's The Unseen Hand . Sharman would bring in production designer Brian Thomson . The original creative team was then rounded out by costume designer Sue Blane, musical director Richard Hartley, and stage producer Michael White, who was brought in to produce . As the musical went into rehearsal, the working title, They Came from Denton High, was changed just before previews at the suggestion of Sharman to The Rocky Horror Show . </P> <P> Having premiered in the small sixty - seat Royal Court Theatre, it quickly moved to larger venues in London, transferring to the 230 - seat Chelsea Classic Cinema on Kings Road on 14 August 1973, before finding a quasi-permanent home at the 500 - seat King's Road Theatre from 3 November 1973, running for six years . The musical made its U.S. debut in Los Angeles in 1974 before being played in New York City as well as other cities . Producer and Ode Records owner Lou Adler attended the London production in the winter of 1973, escorted by friend Britt Ekland . He immediately decided to purchase the U.S. theatrical rights . His production would be staged at his Roxy Theatre in L.A. In 1975, The Rocky Horror Show premiered on Broadway at the 1,000 - seat Belasco Theatre . </P> <P> The film was shot at Bray Studios and Oakley Court, a country house near Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, and at Elstree Studios for post production, from 21 October to 19 December 1974 . Oakley Court, built in 1857 in the Victorian Gothic style, is known for a number of Hammer films . Much of the location shooting took place there, although at the time the manor was not in good condition . Much of the cast were from the original London stage production, including Tim Curry, who had decided that Dr Frank N. Furter should speak like the Queen of England, extravagantly posh . Fox insisted on casting the two characters of Brad and Janet with American actors, Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon . Filming took place during autumn, which made conditions worse . During filming, Sarandon fell ill with pneumonia . Filming of the laboratory scene and the title character's creation occurred on 30 October 1974 . </P>

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