Talisman Theatre and Arts Centre Barrow Road, Kenilworth CV8 1EG

22nd to 27th June 2026

Rock of Ages

We have two wheelchairs spaces as indicated on the seating plan above.

To check availability and book please contact the Box Office on 01926 856548 (or email us through our Contact Us page)

Click for Seating Plan

Big dreams. Bigger hair. Blazing riffs.

Book by Chris D’Arienzo
Arrangements and Orchestrations by Ethan Popp

Directed by James Harris

Let your hair down and bring your dancing shoes for this larger-than-life blast from the past!

Set in the 1980s along the Sunset Strip, join us in following aspiring rocker Drew and small-town girl Sherrie as they chase their dreams at the legendary Bourbon Room, while trying to save the venue from being replaced by a strip mall.

Set to iconic anthems of the era, Rock of Ages is a high-energy, feel-good love letter to the ’80s — a jukebox romp with a soundtrack you’ll adore from start to finish. Live out your Hollywood dreams in this unmissable musical comedy!

Age recommendation: 12+ or at parental discretion. This show contains some adult language and themes.

This amateur production of ROCK OF AGES is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk

PERFORMANCE DATES & TIMES

Early Access Booking for Rock of Ages

Available exclusively to Talisman Theatre Members until the beginning of March 2026.

To reward our loyal supporters, Rock of Ages tickets will initially be offered only to Talisman Theatre members. Becoming a member is the best way to guarantee your seats for this hugely popular musical – and enjoy a range of benefits all year round.

Why become a member?

Exclusive early booking on Rock of Ages before tickets go on general sale

Discounted ticket prices for all Talisman productions throughout the year

Don’t miss out on your chance to secure the best seats.

👉 Join the Talisman Theatre today:

https://talismantheatre.co.uk/membership/

We have two wheelchair spaces available for each performance. To book wheelchair spaces, be added to the waiting list or ticket returns, please contact Box Office on 01926 856548 (or via our Contact Us page)

Tickets are available via the online booking system with concessions available for full time students, those in receipt of a pension, Talisman members and group bookings (for parties of 10 or more).

Talisman Theatre and Arts Centre
Barrow Road, Kenilworth CV8 1FN

We have two wheelchairs spaces as indicated on the seating plan above.

To check availability and book please contact the Box Office on 01926 856548 (or email us through our Contact Us page)

Click for Seating Plan

SHOW DETAILS

Big dreams. Bigger hair. Blazing riffs.

by Chris D’Arienzo

Directed by James Harris

Let your hair down and bring your dancing shoes for this larger-than-life blast from the past!

Set to iconic anthems of the era, Rock of Ages is a highenergy, feel-good love letter to the ’80s — a jukebox romp with a soundtrack you’ll adore from start to finish. Live out your Hollywood dreams in this unmissable musical comedy!

Age recommendation: 12+ or at parental discretion. This show contains some adult language and themes.

An amateur production by arrangement with Nick Hern Books.

CAST & CREW

Cast

DREW BOLEY – Harry Bowser

SHERRIE – Phoebe Dann

LONNY – Daniel Gough

DENNIS DUPREE – Phil Spencer

REGINA KOONTZ – Sam Harris

JUSTICE CHARLIER – Sally Jolliffe

STACEE JAXX – Ben Ionoff

HERTZ KLINEMAN – John Francis

FRANZ KLINEMAN – Jack Ives

COMPANY – George Haughie, Rose Bird, Amy Jolliffe, Emily Carleton, Ellie Chapman, Megan Orton, Alexandra Newman, Adam Turner, Caroline McCluskey, Gill Halford

Band

Isaac Griffiths – Drums

Oscar Francisco – Bass

Ivan Jewel – Keyboards

Steve Rogers – Rhythm Guitar

Daniel Barrie – Lead Guitar

Creatives & Crew

Director – James Harris

Choreographers – Amanda Wright & Natasha Hall

Musical Director – Daniel Barrie

Set Designer – Steve Roberts, James Harris, Dik Thacker

Production Manager – Emi Burrows

Vocal Director – Hannah Dodd

Wardrobe – Saira Roper

Lighting – Steve Roberts

Sound – Dik Thacker

Projections and VFX – Chris Williams

Props – James Rowland (assisted by Katie-Anne Ray)

Set Build – Steve Sanday & The Talisman Set Build Team

Publicity – Sharon Sully & Team

Photography – Robert Warner (with post-production by Mark Plastow)

DIRECTOR'S NOTES

Director’s Notes – James Harris – Rock of Ages

First exploding onto Broadway in 2009 like a can of hairspray left too close to a pyrotechnics rig, Rock of Ages quickly became the ultimate love letter to the loud, unapologetic excess of the 1980s. Created by Chris D’Arienzo, the show stitches together a gloriously over-the-top love story with some of the biggest rock anthems ever unleashed upon mankind by bands including Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Poison, Twisted Sister and Europe.

Set on Los Angeles’ legendary Sunset Strip in 1987 — a world of leather trousers, power ballads, questionable life choices and enough hairspray to damage the ozone layer — the story follows wannabe rock god Drew and small-town dreamer Sherrie as they chase fame, fortune and each other through the chaotic world of rock ’n’ roll.

Packed with fourth-wall-breaking comedy, outrageous characters and enough 80s references to fill a branch of Our Price, the show became a worldwide smash hit, spawning international productions, a Las Vegas run and a 2012 Hollywood film adaptation starring Tom Cruise… and, for reasons best known to Hollywood executives of the early 2010s, a monkey.

At its heart, Rock of Ages is both parody and tribute — joyfully sending up the decade while celebrating the music, optimism and rebellious spirit that made it unforgettable. Beneath the big laughs and even bigger guitar solos lies a genuine affection for a time when rock stars ruled the world, MTV still played music videos, and every emotional crisis could apparently be solved with a power ballad and a wind machine.

Bringing this production to life has been an enormous team effort involving a company of nineteen wildly talented, energetic and wonderfully good-humoured performers, backed by an exceptional team of musicians, technicians and backstage heroes who have worked tirelessly to transform the Talisman stage into a full-blown Sunset Strip rock club. It has been a genuine pleasure to work alongside both familiar Talisman faces and performers making their debut on this stage.

I count myself incredibly lucky to have grown up surrounded by the music, films and larger-than-life culture that inspired Rock of Ages. This production has been staged as a genuine love letter to a decade that still occupies a special place in many hearts — something reflected in the continued resurgence of 80s music, fashion and film. It is slightly alarming to realise the show is now set almost 40 years in the past, yet it still feels fresh, funny and strangely familiar. Perhaps that is because, beneath all the spandex and smoke machines, it reminds us of a time when dreams felt enormous, rock stars felt immortal and nobody thought ordering a drink called a “Slippery Nipple” was remotely embarrassing.

This production promises to be loud, bright, energetic and entirely unashamed of itself — rather like Diana Moran, the Green Goddess, after six cans of Tennent’s Super delivering a motivational speech from David Lee Roth. Expect face-melting rock anthems, larger-than-life characters, huge laughs and an evening that should leave you grinning like you’ve just won a backstage pass to a Def Leppard gig in 1987.

Fasten your seatbelts, throw up your devil horns and prepare to be rocked.

James Harris

SONG LIST

ROCK OF AGES – SONG LIST

“Anyway You Want It”

written by Steve Perry and Neal Schon. © Published by Lacey Boulevard Music and Weed High Nightmare Music.

“Beaver Hunt”

written by David Gibbs and Chris Hardwick. Published by Feed the Pony Songs and Fish Ladder, Inc. (BMI)

“Can’t Fight This Feeling”

written by Kevin Cronin. © Published by Fate Music. (ASCAP)

“Cum on Feel the Noize”

written by Neville Holder and James Lea. © Barn Publishing (Slade) Ltd.

“Don’t Stop Believin’”

written by Jonathan Cain, Stephen Ray Perry, Neal J. Schon. © Published by Weed High Nightmare Music and Lacey

Boulevard Music.

“Every Rose Has Its Thorn”

written by Bobby Dall, Bruce Anthony Johannesson, Bret Michael, Rikki Rocket. © All rights owned or

administered by Universal Music-Z Songs on behalf of Cyanide Publ./BMI. Used by permission.

“The Final Countdown”

written by Joey Tempest. © Screen Gems-EMI Music Inc.

“Harden My Heart”

“Heat of the Moment”

Used by permission.

“Heaven”

written by Jani Lane, Erik Turner, Jerry Dixon, Steven Sweet and Joey Allen ©.

“Here I Go Again”

“High Enough”

written by Jack Blades, Ted Nugent and Tommy R. Shaw. © Published by Bicycle Music Company, Broadhead Publishing

and Wixen Music.

“Hit Me With Your Best Shot”

written by E. Schwartz. © Sony/ATV Tunes LLC/ASCAP.

“I Hate Myself for Loving You”

written by Desmond Child and Joan Jett. © All rights owned or administered by Universal-PolyGram Int.

Publ., Inc./ASCAP. Used by permission.

“I Wanna Rock”

written by Daniel Dee Snider. © All rights owned or administered by Universal Music-Z Melodies on behalf of Snidest

Music/SESAC. Used by permission.

“I Want to Know What Love Is”

written by Michael Leslie Jones. © Published by Somerset Songs Publishing, Inc.

“Just Like Paradise”

written by David Lee Roth and Brett Tuggle. © Diamond Dave Music c/o RS Plane Music.

“Keep on Lovin’ You”

written by Kevin Cronin. © Published by Fate Music (ASCAP).

“Kiss Me Deadly”

written by Mick Smiley. © Published by The Twin Towers Co. and Mike Chapman Publishing Enterprises.

“More Than Words”

written by Nuno Bettencourt and Gary F. Cherone. © All rights owned or administered by Almo Music Corp. on behalf of Color Me Blind Music/ASCAP. Used by permission.

“Nothin’ But a Good Time”

written by Bobby Dall, Bruce Anthony Johannesson, Bret Michaels, Rikki Rocket. © All rights owned or

administered by Universal Music-Z Songs on behalf of Cyanide Publ./BMI. Used by permission.

“Oh Sherrie”

written by Steve Perry, Randy Goodrum, Bill Cuomo, Craig Krampf. © Published by Street Talk Tunes, April Music Inc. & Random Notes, Pants Down Music and Phosphene Music.

“Renegade”

written by Tommy Shaw. © All rights owned or administered by Almo Music Corp. on behalf of itself and Stygian Songs/ASCAP. Used by permission.

“The Search is Over”

written by James Peterik and Frankie Sullivan. © 1984 Kohaw Music (ASCAP) and Easy Action Music (ASCAP) and Rude Music, Inc. (BMI). All rights administered by Kohaw Music (ASCAP) on behalf of itself and Easy Action Music (ASCAP), c/o The Bicycle Music Company and Three Wise Boys Music (BMI) on behalf of itself and Rude Music (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission.

“Sister Christian”

written by Kelly Keagy. © Published by Bicycle Music Company.

“To Be With You”

written by David Grahame and Eric Martin. © EMI April Music, Inc. obo itself, Dog Turner Music and Eric Martin Songs (ASCAP).

“Too Much Time on My Hands”

written by Tommy Shaw. © Stygian Songs/ASCAP.

“Waiting for a Girl Like You”

written by Michael Leslie Jones and Louis Gramattico. © Published by Somerset Songs Publishing Inc.

“Wanted Dead or Alive”

written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richard S. Sambora. © All rights owned or administered by Universal-Polygram Int. Publ., Inc. on behalf of itself and Bon Jovi Publishing/ASCAP. Used by permission.

“We Built This City”

written by Dennis Lambert, Martin George Page, Bernie Taupin and Peter Wolf. © All rights owned or administered by Universal-Polygram Int. Publ., Inc. on behalf of Little Mole Music Inc./ASCAP. Used by permission.

“We’re Not Gonna Take It”

written by Daniel Dee Snider. © All rights owned or administered by Universal Music-Z Melodies on behalf of

Snidest Music/SESAC. Used by permission.