When the Rocky Horror Show spectacle hits the Princess Theatre next week it’ll be a homecoming gig for one of its principal characters.

Miracle Chance, aka Columbia in the show, grew up in Buckfastleigh and danced as a child on the Torquay theatre stage.

The 26-year-old said she’s looking forward to some home comforts during the show’s Princess Theatre run.

She said: ‘I can’t wait to get to Torquay, and mum’s cooked dinners after the show.

‘I’ve performed at the Princess Theatre a few times. I used to do panto there when I was a kid, as one of the dancing mice etc, and also danced there in competitions.

‘Last time I was there was a couple of years ago when I supported Sam Bailey. I know Torquay so well. It definitely feels like a coming home gig. I’m really excited.’

Featuring timeless classics, including Sweet Transvestite and Time Warp, Richard O’Brien’s legendary Rocky Horror Show is the story of two squeaky-clean college kids Brad and his fiancée Janet. When their car breaks down outside a creepy mansion they meet the charismatic Dr Frank-N-Furter and his extraordinary world unfolds.

Columbia is Miracle’s first principal role in a touring theatre show.

She said: ‘It really is a dream come true, a principal role in an amazing, well respected show. There’s something about the Rocky Horror Show - it’s just iconic and so unique and specific.

‘There’s the whole weird 50’s, 60’s and rock ballad score. It’s quite literally in a time warp of its own. Everything about it is still so cool. It’s one of those shows that keeps on getting better.

‘I was completely over the moon when I got the part. It was the first time I cried about a job when I got the call. Everything about the show is what I stand for and Columbia is a role I really feel is right for me.

‘I grew up around Totnes with an arty background and loads of my friends did amateur productions of Rocky Horror. I feel it’s the one show everyone can relate to.

‘The response from lots of my transgender and non-binary friends to me taking on this role was amazing. It feels like being part of something that’s a bit more than a theatre show, it’s got more of a community behind it. It’s a very funny show with a great message.

‘I’ve loved all my jobs in theatre but definitely for me this is a pivotal point in my career.’

Miracle grew up in Scorriton, Buckfastleigh, and attended Park School and King Edward VI Community College in Totnes. Her parents now live in Ashburton.

She studied theatre at Guildford School of Acting and her first professional show was Angelina Ballerina, touring across the UK and Australia. Other theatre credits include Priscilla Queen of the Desert, The Wedding Singer and Footloose.

Miracle’s also a singer songwriter and has had a solo performing career. She’s part of a pop trio MAID, who bravely played their first live gig together on primetime TV last Friday. They were one of six acts competing live on the BBC’s ‘Eurovision: You Decide’ to be the UK’s entry for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

Miracle and her band mates, Kat Kleve and Blythe Jandoo, were approached by the BBC to enter the show, after they were spotted on Instagram.

She said: ‘Unfortunately it didn’t go great and we didn’t get though, but it was brilliant experience of TV work.

‘We’re all theatre girls and used to live audiences but don’t have much TV experience. The day was such a blur and before we knew it we were whisked onto a live show. It was very full on.

‘We couldn’t hear each other through the studio equipment. We’re all professional singers and what we delivered was not the standard we’d hold ourselves to. It was fine not to get through but we were a bit upset with ourselves really.

‘But for our first live experience it was quite big and bold to go out there. The BBC approached us and asked us to enter and we felt it would be silly to say no.

‘We’re not regretful as we learnt so much valuable stuff about TV work. We wish the winner Michael Rice all the best in the Eurovision Song Contest in May. He’s a lovely guy, bless him. It’s a hard year to be in the contest, with Brexit and all that, so we hope he does well.’

The following day Miracle was back on stage for two Saturday performances of Rocky Horror Show in Milton Keynes.

This week the show is in Wimbledon, next week in Sheffield and then she’s ‘home’ for a week in Torquay.

Miracle is on stage as Columbia alongside iconic Rocky Horror performers - West End star Stephen Webb as Dr Frank-N-Furter and Kristian Lavercombe as Riff Raff. This year’s show also stars Strictly Come Dancing’s Joanne Clifton as Janet and Ben Adams from the boyband A1 as Brad.

‘Rocky Horror really is such a legendary show,’ laughed Miracle. ‘I love it so much. And the audiences are the best. They get so involved, dressing up as the characters, shouting out the lines, even adding some lines of their own. They’re so dedicated. And of course everyone is on their feet for the Time Warp.

‘When I look out I see Columbias in the audience and it’s a wonderful part of the show. We opened in Brighton and there was a six-foot man dressed as Columbia in the audience who was amazing. And another guy at the stage door in the full showgirl Frank-N-Furter get up. You gotta hand it to these guys, their eye for detail is incredible.

‘The audiences have so much fun. The day I’m not in the Rocky Horror Show anymore I’m going to become 100 per cent a Rocky Horror Show fan.’

Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show runs at the Princess Theatre Torquay from February 25 February to March 2.