Tim Hughes finds out why former S Club 7 singer Paul Cattermole is now gracing the stage in Rocky Horror

It is a theatrical phenomenon; a schlock horror move-spoof, part Dracula, part Frankenstein and part Scooby-Doo, which plays with notions of gender, sexuality, morality and, possibly, existentialism itself.

There is nothing quite like the Rocky Horror Show, which is why, four decades after Tim Curry first slipped into his fishnet stockings, Richard O’Brien’s blockbuster is still pulling in fans.

And just as the show attracts new generations of devotees, so it serves up new generations of performers, happy to cast off their inhibitions and show a whole new revealing side to their personalities.

The latest star to decamp to Frank-N-Furter’s castle is Paul Cattermole – better known as a former member of S Club 7.

So how, I wonder, did the former teen heartthrob, who found fame singing sugary pop, find himself rocking around the stage as Eddie in Rocky Horror, which opened at the New Theatre this week?

“I was a fan of the show before,” he says. “I loved it! So I’m having a great time being part of it now. It’s a brilliant show with so many excellent moments, and I’m having a ball with it.”

After chart success with the likes of S Club Party and Bring It All Back, former child actor Paul has kept a low profile, singing, writing and working as a voiceover artist. So how did he land the role of Frank-N-Furter’s victim, Eddie – along with that of Brad’s teacher-with-a-past, Dr Scott, for which he doubles up?

“I kind of fell into the part, really,” he says. “It came up in a bar conversation that Rocky Horror was casting, and I ran with the idea and auditioned.

“It’s fair to say it’s like nothing else on my CV.”

He admits, it is certainly a departure from S Club 7.

“S Club 7 was brilliant,” he says. “It was really great fun to be a part of. Rocky Horror couldn’t be more different, I suppose, but in the course of a performing career that’s what you do. Just different shows, different roles to play.”

So how is he enjoying playing two roles?

“Eddie is a crazy guy, he’s created by Frank, he’s got half a brain so he doesn’t really know how to do anything,” says Paul. “Dr Scott, however, is in a wheelchair, he’s a doctor, an old guy. It’s really cool playing two different things.

“You’re more in control of your own character.”

With such a classic musical, is there room for change or tweaks?

“About two-thirds of the audience absolutely know all the music and dialogue, so we have to respect that,” he smiles. “I’d say there are tweaks, rather than major changes. As with any production, something will come up in rehearsal that works, and you run with it. In fact there’s a whole new scene involving Riff Raff (played by Kristian Lavercombe) at one point, which developed in that way and we kept it in.”

And does having such a dedicated fan base add pressure to the performance?

“Yes, I would say it adds a different layer of pressure,” he says. “The fan base is so huge and loyal for the Rocky Horror Show, they really love it, so you don’t want to let them down.

“Friday and Saturday will be solid with the regulars, who will all have booked ahead. Those are the performances that really reach bubbling point and then it’s just another level.”

What about first-timers, are they as receptive as the old-school fans?

“There are huge numbers of the old-school fans who are in a kind of paid-up membership, and they love it and inevitably we do play to them. But we certainly get new audiences all the time and you can definitely join up. You might come in as a newcomer but you’ll leave as a convert!”

So what advice would he give to someone who hasn’t seen the Rocky Horror Show before?

“I’d say sit about 12 rows back if you want to stay in the neutral seats!”

He laughs: “We have had such an amazing time touring the Rocky Horror Show around the UK.

“The audiences are so different at each venue, and I have been really looking forward to performing in front of the Oxford audiences at the New Theatre as we end the tour here over Christmas.

“I’m even planning to do a bit of exploring in my down time while I am here!”

Paul Cattermole plays Eddie and Dr Scott in the Rocky Horror Show at the New Theatre Oxford. Tickets from atgtickets.com