Kristian Lavercombe: Riff Raff Role Still Missed by Record Holder
For 15 years, Kristian Lavercombe was Riff Raff. The Welsh-born actor captivated audiences worldwide with his portrayal of the iconic character in The Rocky Horror Present, ultimately earning a world record for the most performances in the role – a staggering 2622 times. But stepping away from the character, Lavercombe says, wasn’t easy. He experienced a period of mourning, a testament to the deep connection forged with both the role and the uniquely engaged fans who made each performance a singular event.
Now, Lavercombe is embarking on a novel chapter, touring Novel Zealand as The Narrator in a production of the cult classic. The transition, but, hasn’t erased the memories – or the lingering affection – for the character that defined much of his career. As of , Lavercombe is currently performing this role in New Zealand.
The actor’s journey, from initially not wanting to play Riff Raff to becoming synonymous with the role, speaks to the power of performance and the unexpected connections that can develop between an actor and their audience. He initially approached an audition for the show with the intention of explicitly avoiding the part, telling himself he simply couldn’t sing it. “My plan was to go in there and go, hi, I can sing anything from the show apart from Riff Raff, because I don’t believe I can sing that,” he recounted. He even attempted to preemptively dissuade casting directors, but ultimately decided against negativity. “But I thought when I got into the audition, don’t be negative Kristian, just don’t say anything. They’re never going to get you to sing that….”
The enduring appeal of The Rocky Horror Show and its devoted fanbase played a significant part in his long run. Lavercombe describes the audiences as unlike any other he’s encountered. “They are part of the show,” he explained. “You can stand up during The Time Warp, which is a song in the middle of the show. You can stand up and dance in the aisles. You can shout out at the actors.” This interactive element, with fans delivering pre-set “call-outs” during the performance, transformed each show into a collaborative experience. According to Lavercombe, these audience contributions often provided the funniest moments of the night.
Richard O’Brien, the writer of The Rocky Horror Show, has described Lavercombe as “a fantastically talented Riff Raff.” Lavercombe’s interpretation of the role has been lauded as “deliciously sleazy,” “simply perfection,” and “consistently the most watchable thing on stage.” His 2622 performances include runs on the International Tour (2010), the Australian Tour (2014–2015), the UK’s 40th Anniversary Tour (2015), a West End live cinema broadcast in 2015 with O’Brien himself, the 2016 UK Tour, the Australian Tour (2018), the UK Tour (2018-2019), the South African Tour (2019-2020) and the UK and World Tour (2021-2022).
Lavercombe’s career extends beyond his record-breaking run as Riff Raff. He has held leading roles in over 30 professional productions, including Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar for the Auckland Theatre Company in 2014, where he was praised as “an authentic musical theatre performer of equally impressive singer-actor ability.” He also portrayed Bobby Strong in Urinetown for Downstage Theatre in 2007, and Cripple Billy in The Cripple of Inishmaan for The Court Theatre. He also played Puck in Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Christchurch Arts Festival.
Despite his success in other roles, Lavercombe admits to still missing the unique energy of playing Riff Raff. The actor experienced a sense of loss when he stopped performing the role after 15 years. The connection with the character and the audience was profound, and the interactive nature of The Rocky Horror Show created a performance environment unlike any other. He noted that he “never got bored” with the role, always finding excitement in each show due to the audience participation.
His current role as The Narrator allows him to remain connected to the world of The Rocky Horror Show, albeit from a different perspective. While the experience is distinct from embodying Riff Raff, it allows him to continue engaging with the devoted fanbase and the unique atmosphere that defines the production. The transition highlights the actor’s versatility and his enduring commitment to the show that brought him international recognition.