For Halloween this year, the Mediterranean Conference Centre will be transformed for one of musical theatre's most iconic cult experiences as The Rocky Horror Show takes to the stage on 30 and 31 October and 1 November 2026.
Produced by Arthaus and the Mediterranean Conference Centre (MCC), the production brings together an accomplished Maltese cast, a live five-piece band and an extensive creative team for a bold staging of Richard O'Brien's legendary rock musical. It follows two previous licensed musical productions by Arthaus, The Addams Family at the MCC in 2020 and Chicago at Hilton Malta in 2023.
Prior to the show, selected guests were invited behind the curtain for an exclusive preview, offering a first glimpse of the cast in full costume and makeup and a taste of the music, comedy and wonderfully outrageous world audiences can expect this Halloween.
Among those attending were Henry Galea, Miriana Conte, Destiny, Muxu and Gaia, who joined other guests in dressing for the occasion and even took to the floor with the cast to learn the iconic Time Warp.
At the helm of the production is director Lucienne Camilleri, with Ryan Paul Abela, Artistic Director of the Mediterranean Conference Centre, serving as Musical Director, and Amy Caruana Dingli as Choreographer. An extensive creative team working across costume, makeup and hair is bringing Rocky Horror's distinctive visual world to life.
For Production Manager and Costume Designer Stefania Grech Vella, one of the defining elements of the production has been the level of commitment and ambition across the entire company.
"What has struck me most about this production is the commitment across the entire company. There is a real thirst for perfection, from those on stage to those working behind the scenes, and an incredible amount of hard work is going into every detail. Everyone is pushing towards the same goal: to make this production the very best it can be."
Leading the cast is Joseph Zammit as Dr Frank-N-Furter, alongside Cliff Zammit Stevens as Brad, Talitha Dimech as Janet, David Ellul as Rocky, Neil Cutajar as Eddie and Dr Scott, Stephen Oliver as the Narrator, Bettina Mattocks as Magenta, Bertha Farrugia as Columbia and Francesca Scerri as the Usherette. They are joined by 11 Phantoms, completing the company.
Ryan Paul Abela says that "Rocky Horror is bold, unapologetic rock 'n' roll fuelled by incredible energy. We have great musicians playing live, on stage and in costume, breathtaking choreography and daring moves, all coming together to create something powerful, raw and completely alive."
More than a musical
For those who have never experienced The Rocky Horror Show live, this is no ordinary night at the theatre.
Audience participation has become part of the show's worldwide tradition, and Maltese audiences are being encouraged to join in: dressing up, learning the famous moves to Time Warp and shouting the popular callbacks at the cast throughout the performance.
Ahead of yesterday's preview, Arthaus organised a free public workshop for existing ticket holders, with all 35 available places snapped up within just two hours. Those attending took part in scene work and a theatrical makeup workshop, alongside a sexual health awareness session and a workshop exploring the scripted audience callbacks that are such a distinctive part of the Rocky Horror live experience.
For Samantha Corrieri Dela, President of Arthaus, the free public workshops are an important extension of the organisation's work beyond the stage.
"We wanted to open up part of the Rocky Horror experience to the public and give people the opportunity to be part of it in a different way. At Arthaus, we believe the arts can be a springboard for people to discover what they're capable of, learn from one another and connect. This workshop was about giving people the chance to try something new and experience the joy of being part of the theatrical process."
Tickets and full information are available through ShowsHappening.com: https://www.showshappening.com/mcc/ROCKY-HORROR-SHOW