Bob Carlton, writer of rock musical Return To The Forbidden Planet, talks to Katherine MacAlister

It’s a mad idea – putting on a rock musical about the crew of a spaceship getting caught in a meteor shower and being mysteriously drawn to a planet, where they become marooned – but it’s worked before and now Return To The Forbidden Planet is back for more.

Having spent four years in the West End and touring the world back in the 90s, the surreal sci-fi dukebox musical is back, bigger and more colourful than ever before.

So it’s incredible to think that despite its global success, Bob Carlton originally wrote the show to perform in a fringe art theatre tent.

“I just wrote it because I thought people would enjoy it without having any idea of its longevity. I just thought I’d have a go.”

It seems fitting then that 25 years later it’s back for an anniversary tour, with some new numbers thrown in to the spoof of the 1950s B Movie Return To The Forbidden Planet, which in turn is based loosely on Shakespeare’s Tempest.

“It’s like greeting an old friend,” Bob agrees. “I look back on those days fondly.”

Since then Bob has been running theatres, producing West End shows and TV programmes like Brookside, Emmerdale and award-winning children’s series Streetwise, but it always comes back to Return To The Forbidden Planet, none more so than now.

“It’s my baby, so if anyone is going to be bringing it back, it’s me. I had to be in charge,” he confirms, smiling wryly. “I am very protective about it because it’s as important second time around, and it has to be an adventure. It’s like being in a bubble.”

So are adaptions his forte? “I have done a lot of other stuff but Return To The Forbidden Planet was always ‘the thing’ for me. Besides, Shakespeare plagiarized all his work and so I don’t feel so bad,” he chuckles. “But neither has The Forbidden Planet ever stopped me from doing other things.”

And with a brand new generation now going to see the show, to enjoy hits such as Great Balls of Fire, This is a Man’s World, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood, Heard It Through the Grapevine, Johnny B. Goode and Born To Be Wild, it’s is back on track.

“There is a whole new audience going to see it now, who didn’t even see it first time around, which shows it’s still great fun. It’s still got it.”

SEE IT
Return to the Forbidden Planet is at Oxford’s New Theatre from Monday, March 30, until Saturday, April 4.
Call the box office on 0844 871 3020 or see atgtickets.com/oxford