Bat Out of Hell | Short Review

With the flimsiest of plots, the dramatic stakes never feel high in this touring revival of the Jim Steinman musical - especially not in a book that has been substantially cut since the show's last residency at the Dominion from 2018 to 2019. It's borderline incoherent and director Jay Scheib doesn't even try to make sense of it, focussing instead on the 17 songs that are featured across a breathless two hours.

Thankfully, said songs are delivered with passion and energy by a very talented cast lead by Glenn Adamson as a snarling teen rock good and Katie Tonkinson as his just-as-good love interest. The choreography feels really dated and the on-stage videographer is a distraction. But he stays out of the way during the musical numbers and that's when Bat Out of Hell really comes alive. The operatic bombast that Steinman and Meat Loaf turned into their own genre is hard to resist when it's done with this much gusto and glee.

Bat Out Of Hell is touring the UK until 20 September. For more information and tickets, visit batoutofhellmusical.com

You can read our full review in the March issue of Musicals magazine out 28 February 2025!

Bat Out of Hell by Jim Steinman (book, music and lyrics)

Churchill Theatre, Bromley, 27 January 2025</>

Cast Glenn Adamson, Katie Tonkinson, Rob Fowler, Sharon Sexton et al

Directed by Jay Scheib