Bat Out of Hell The Musical, UK Tour Review (2025)
Katie Tonkinson as Raven & Glenn Adamson as Strat in Bat Out of Hell. Photo by Chris Davis Studio
Written by Emmie for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
After revisiting this production, my second encounter since the pandemic, I’m starting to suspect that watching Bat Out of Hell: The Musical is less a theatre experience and more like being trapped inside a fever dream… with incredibly catchy tunes. With music, lyrics and book by Jim Steinman and based on the Bat Out of Hell album by Meatloaf, did Bat Out of Hell manage to hit the note in this new tour?
The loose plot tells the story of a rebellious young hero, Strat, who escapes a dystopian city ruled by the tyrannical Falco to pursue his love, Raven, and fight for freedom. With elements of forbidden love reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet and echoes of Peter Pan’s rebellious Lost Boys, some intriguing side plots are introduced to fill the gaps between Jim Steinman and Meatloaf’s music, which is essentially shoehorned into the lack of narrative that this musical has. It’s undoubtedly what the audiences come for, as there was a noticeable tone of quietly singing along to the musical numbers throughout.
Before this recent tour, Bat Out of Hell: The Musical was renowned for its extravagant and inspiring set pieces (it was staged in one of the West End’s most prominent venues, after all!). This aspect has been significantly reduced, and the resulting absence invites audiences to perceive a more jarring transition between the various scenes, which does little to enhance the show’s flow. However, it’s likely the apparent use of handheld microphones that impacts the viewing experience overall. It’s never really explained why they are used alongside head mics, and while this creates an intriguing sound style for the musical numbers, it’s overall very distracting.
But what you can expect from this production is an exceptional cast at its heart, led by Glenn Adamson, a household name when it comes to this show at Strat. He fits naturally into the rock style of this genre and has truly flourished in the role since I last saw him in 2022. Sophie-Rose Emery joins him as Raven; she packs an absolute punch in her killer vocals and matches well with Adamson’s energy.
After originating the role in 2017, Sharon Sexton returns, this time without her usual co-star and partner, Rob Fowler, who was absent from this performance. Instead, we were treated to Josh Dever’s fresh—and—less—intimidating take on the formidable Falco. Ryan Carter’s Jagwire and Georgia Bradshaw’s Zahara are giving roof-raising vocals, whilst Carla Bertran’s Tink is enjoyable to watch. The ensemble excels in Xena Gusthart’s additional choreography, which is precise and snappy during these big musical numbers, instantly capturing my attention. The material in this production lets the cast down, but one must admire their vocal ability to tackle these incredibly challenging songs.
Overall, is Bat Out Of Hell a strong, memorable musical for all the right reasons? Probably not. However, if you’re a fan of the music, you’ll have a smashing time at the theatre!
Bat Out of Hell is touring the UK until September 2025.
★★★
