Introducing actor Fionán O’Carroll: ‘Every night in the Rocky Horror Show I get to be a little bit mad’

Fionán O’Carroll. Photo: Samuel Black Photography

Ciara Dwyer

January 29 2023 02:30 AM

Age: 25.

Born: Tralee, Co Kerry.

In these shoes: “I’m wearing high heels, suspenders and a corset,” Fionán says. It can only be The Rocky Horror Show. Talk about making your professional debut in style. He graduated from music theatre school in London last June. Richard O’Brien’s rock and roll musical was his second audition. What a wild and wonderful beginning. Ever since its first performance in 1973, it has become a cult classic, featuring Frank-N-Furter and the gang.

Full circle: A few years ago, O’Carroll saw the show at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. From tomorrow until February 4, he will be at the Dublin venue for a week-long performance. He will be acting alongside the two lead actors he had admired when he previously saw the show.

Touring with the time-warp: “I play one of the phantoms. Every night I get to be a little bit mad. I’m getting used to wearing the heels. It’s like a muscle memory.” He has performed the show in the UK and in Italy. The Italian audience created extra ad-libs. For the Dublin show, a group of 35 of his family and friends will travel up from the Kingdom.

Making his muscles: As a child, he went to the Oliver Hurley Stage School, Tralee, and later he joined Newbridge Musical Society in Co Kildare. His grandfather was a great singer too. So it’s in the genes.