A drama was played out on the pavement outside Chester's Storyhouse last night as The Rocky Horror Show opened for its first night.

The rock n roll musical has been performed, consistently, for 45 years without much fuss despite containing gay themes as well as addressing cross-dressing in a humorous way and is one of the most popular theatre shows.

But not everyone was thrilled to see the performance, the Chester Chronicle reports.

Ahead of the curtain rise. a group of religious protesters set up camp outside the theatre on Hunter Street, brandishing placards with Biblical quotes.

One sign read: "Be sure your sin will find you out."

However, Joanne Clifton, who plays the lead role of Janet in the show, and is the sister of Strictly dancer Kevin Clifton, tweeted a picture of herself.

She wrote: "With the protesters! Apparently according to them we're all gonna die by Friday because we're in the Rocky Horror Show!"

Other signs read: "NOW is the accepted time.. NOW is the day of salvation."

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Earlier this month, a pastor in Buckinghamshire wrote a letter of protest to the Wycombe Swan theatre in High Wycombe when the show toured there.

The clergyman described it as "a corruption of public decency."

According to local media reports, Pastor Peter Simpson, didn't approve of the gender fluidity and gay themes.

Back in Chester. the Storyhouse tweeted in response to protesters: "To everyone coming to The Rocky Horror Show tonight and this week at Storyhouse - Storyhouse is and always will be a safe space. We celebrate and support LGBTQ+ communities - always. Let's have a FABULOUS night & week. To those who are protesting - Let's Do The Time Warp Again."

The tweet was pinned, poignantly, to the top of the Storyhouse's Twitter account.