Richard O’Brien is returning to the stage – this time hosting the world premiere of his new play the ‘Kingdom of Bling’ right here in Tauranga tonight, November 24.

Moreover, the ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ mastermind is taking to the stage with youngsters who attend his old local schools, letting their stars shine bright in his new satirical fairy-tale.

Musical direction by Joe Thomas and vocal coaching by Brendon Weatherley, the production will take audiences on a melodic journey where they’ll meet giants, a menacing fox, trolls, and the king of the land; the obnoxious ‘He’.

The show – on tonight, Friday, November 24 and Saturday, November 25, from both 2pm and 6.45pm at Tauranga’s Baycourt Addison Theatre – is a fundraiser for Starship Children’s Hospital. Richard has even donated the rights for ‘Kingdom of Bling’ to Starship.

Richard, a globally renowned actor and playwright who lives in the Western Bay of Plenty, will be the narrator alongside students from Tauranga Primary School and Tauranga Boys’ College, plus Tauranga Girls’ College students.

So what do Tauranga youngsters think about performing alongside Richard?

When teacher Miss Creek asked whether they’d be keen to be part of the play, Tauranga Boys’ College student Tommy Shorter said: “Count me in!...Absolutely [I am excited]! One hundred and ten per cent! So happy to sing a song, bro. Finally got a solo. Livin’ the dream.”

Fellow student Ollie Davie says the play is not just about entertainment “It’s like when you read a good book and you find the hidden meaning within it. It’s one of those things where it draws you in, it’s a bit like a puzzle.

Tommy says:  “It actually creates a really powerful message for not only adults, but actually kids at the same time”.

Since spending time with him, the students speak highly of Richard. “He has such a fantastic mind,” says Tommy.

Ollie says: “Two words: delightfully eccentric! He’s so cool. He’s the old man I want to be!”

Richard says the ‘Kingdom of Bling’ is first and foremost a satirical fairy-tale punctuated with songs. “The aim is to have a lot of fun doing it, raise some money for the Starship and also make a small point about our need to bring back civil discourse into the political arena and attempt to divert the horrors of the poisoned chalice that far-right-fundamentalism is loudly offering up.”

Richard says working with the student has been a delight “as I attended TBC when it was still co-ed and I also attended Tauranga Primary School for two years before that”.

“TBC is where I made my very first stage appearance with some lines to say. My stage debut, so to speak.”

The ‘Kingdom of Bling’ is at Tauranga’s Baycourt Addison Theatre tonight from 6.45pm, and tomorrow, November 25, at 2pm and 6.45pm.

Tickets at: https://premier.ticketek.co.nz