Last night, I was lucky enough to review the Bat Out Of Hell Uk Tour at The Palace Theatre Manchester. Now, I like Meatloaf, but this was a late-to-the-party thing. So, whilst I appreciate him, his life story and his music, I am not a super fan. Thus, I was curious about how I would feel about the show; I adore Queen, so I felt We Will Rock You In My Heart. But I was unsure how I would resonate with Bat Out Of Hell.
However, I needn’t have worried; Bat Out Of Hell blew my mind; I felt it added magic to the score, almost like this was how I was meant to see Meatloaf. I guess that’s the purpose of Rock Opera. To take music you like and breath a different kind of magic into it. And thats how it felt, explosive and magical.
What Is Bat Out Of Hell About?
Bat Out of Hell: The Musical is a rock opera featuring the music of Jim Steinman, primarily from Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell album trilogy. Originally developed in the 1970s as a futuristic Peter Pan story called Neverland, it took decades to become a full-scale musical. The show finally premiered in Manchester in 2017 before moving to London’s West End, Toronto, and later embarking on international tours.
Set in a dystopian city, the story follows Strat (Glenn Adamson), the leader of a rebellious, forever-young gang called The Lost, who falls in love with Raven (Katie Tonkinson), the daughter of the tyrannical ruler Falco (Rob Fowler). The musical features hit songs like Bat Out of Hell, I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That), and Paradise by the Dashboard Light.
The show gained a dedicated fanbase and remains a tribute to Steinman and Meat Loaf. It continues to be performed internationally, keeping their legacy alive.
My Review of Bat Out Of Hell
I had no idea what to expect, and it took me a while to grasp what was going on, but when you click with the concept, it’s mindblowing, but the story is simple. The thing with Bat Out Of Hell is there is nowhere to hide. When you perform iconic songs sung flawlessly by legends such as Meatloaf, Cher and Celine Dion, you have to be amazing. And the cast is phenomenal.
The track Bat Out Of Hell felt like it should be the finale. Glenn Adamson channelled his inner rock-lost boy to perfection. Whilst Katie Tonkinson Raven brought a rebellious edge to it, the whole performance was stunning.
Paradise by the Dashboard Light brought an air of humour, delivered with incredible vocals and performance by Rob Fowler and Sharon Sexton (Who has played Sloan on and off since 2017). But I must also mention Georgia Bradshaw (Zahara) and Ryan Carter (Jagwire), “Two out of three ain’t bad” was stunning.
Every voice was stunning; the set is clever with multiple layers, which is usually seen more in the Ballet, giving you more to explore and think about other angles of the story. The key to Bat Out Of Hell is the dive in and let the music take over.
I never expected to be putting Bat Out Of Hell in my top 10 shows ever, but it’s up there with Kinky Boots, We Will Rock You, And Juliette and Waitress. This was how I was meant to fall in love with Meatloaf. Bat Out of Hell was the missing piece.
Where Can You See It?
You can see Bat Out Of Hell at the Palace Theatre Manchester until Sat 8 Mar 2025, with tickets from £15.00. And then at…….
- King’s Theatre, Glasgow, Mon 7 Apr – Sat 19 Apr 2025
- New Victoria Theatre, Woking, Mon 5 May – Sat 10 May 2025
- Milton Keynes Theatre, Mon 16 Jun – Sat 28 Jun 2025
- Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Mon 30 Jun – Sat 5 Jul 2025
- Sunderland Empire, Mon 18 Aug – Sat 23 Aug 2025
- Bristol Hippodrome, Mon 1 Sep – Sat 13 Sep 2025
Disclaimer, I was gifted the tickets for review purposes. However, all opinions are my own. Check out where to park near the Palace Theatre.
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