Return to the Forbidden Planet

RTTFB is a Jukebox musical by director Bob Carlton based on Shakespeare's The Tempest and the 1950s science fiction film Forbidden Planet (see picture on the left), which itself drew its plot loosely from The Tempest. The musical first played in London's West End in 1989, winning the Olivier Award for best musical.

Prior to the West End opening the show had been seen at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry and at the Bubble Theatre, making its premiere back in 1983 as a late jam session featuring cast members from the Bubble Theatre.

Part of the show's production crew were Rhythm Method Productions, a production company set up by the cast members both from Return to the Forbidden Planet and Bob Carlton's other rock 'n' roll musical From a Jack to a King.

The plot follows the crew of a routine survey flight under the command of Captain Tempest which is drawn mysteriously to the planet D'Illyria where mad scientist Doctor Prospero and his lovely daughter Miranda are marooned.

The high energy show features a bevy of 1950s and 1960s rock and roll classics, performed on stage by the cast. The campy sci-fi setting is constructed of silvered space suit costumes and space ship sets concealing keyboards and drums. The show's dialogue derives considerable humour from a peppering of Shakespearean quotations, allusions and puns, including Captain Tempest's line 'Two beeps, or not two beeps?'.

The pre-recorded video narrator part was played in the original production by popular astronomer Sir Patrick Moore.

On September 27, 1991, an off-Broadway production opened at in New York at the Variety Arts Theatre, a former nickelodeon and pornographic movie theatre. Return to the Forbidden Planet was the first theatrical production in the new venue. A notable cast member was Julee Cruise, known to audiences from her role in Twin Peaks. The pre-recorded narrator was portrayed by James Doohan, famous as "Scotty" from Star Trek.

It played to mixed reviews, but was nominated for two Outer Critics Circle Awards. It closed on April 26, 1992 after 243 performances. A cast album was released in 1991 by Rhino Records.

The show was revived for touring productions in the United Kingdom in 1999, 2001 and 2002. A new production is touring the UK in 2006 with the pre-recorded narrator being the virtuoso guitarist from Queen, Brian May.