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Sunday, 20 October 2024

THEATRE NEWS ROUNDUP 13th-19th October 2024


It's been another week of exciting theatre announcements! Here’s a quick recap of the highlights, with links to the full stories:

Craig Wright’s gripping play, The Unseen will open at Riverside Studios next month.


The Lord of the Rings- A Musical Tale to Premiere at Theatre Royal Plymouth in October 2025
The musical is set for an exclusive UK run before embarking on a European tour, following its critically acclaimed performances in Chicago, Auckland, and Australia


Orange Tree Theatre's 2025 season brings an exciting mix of world premieres, classic revivals, and the launch of OT Under 30 Nights, making theatre more accessible to younger audiences with discounted tickets and engaging post-show events.


The auction aims to raise funds to support the charity’s mission of making theatre accessible to young people and their families, especially those facing financial, social, or physical barriers.


Jack and the Beanstalk: What a Whopper! promises to be a wildly entertaining adult pantomime, packed with cheeky humour, outrageous performances, and a fabulously queer twist on the classic tale.


A pop-up costume exhibition in Covent Garden celebrates Tina- The Tina Turner Musical, showcasing iconic looks from the production and honouring Tina Turner’s legacy with a special partnership supporting Women’s Aid.


The 2025 UK tour of Bat Out of Hell- The Musical brings Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf's iconic rock hits to life with a newly announced full cast, kicking off in January and running through September.


A new cast debuted in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre this week, as the production continues its acclaimed run through June 2025.


Deafinitely Theatre has been awarded £273,675 by The National Lottery to fund its Deafinitely Youth Theatre programme for the next five years, continuing its mission to provide free, accessible theatre training for deaf and hard of hearing young people aged 14-21.


This winter, La Clique is celebrating 20 years of thrilling cabaret with a star-studded cast, jaw-dropping performances, and exclusive shows in Leicester Square.


Grammy-nominated NSYNC star JC Chasez teams up with Golden Globe-winning songwriter Jimmy Harry for an exciting new musical theatre concept album, Playing With Fire, inspired by Frankenstein and set to release October 25, 2024.


The UK premiere of Dave Malloy’s Tony-nominated musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 is set to debut at Donmar Warehouse from December 9, 2024, featuring a stellar cast led by Declan Bennett and Chumisa Dornford-May.


The 2025 UK tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is set to return with an all-star cast, including Donny Osmond as Pharaoh and Christina Bianco as Narrator, starting its magical Christmas run in Edinburgh this December.


Bradley Riches, Amber Davies, and Claudia Kariuki Join Scott Alan in Concert at Cadogan Hall
Renowned songwriter Scott Alan will perform live at Cadogan Hall on Sunday, November 10, 2024, joined by a star-studded lineup including Bradley Riches, Amber Davies, and Claudia Kariuki, along with Amy di Bartolemeo, Oliver Tompsett, and Stuart Matthew Price. Tickets are available now.


101 Dalmatians Cast Teams Up with Guide Dogs UK for a Pawsome Charity Event at Woking's New Victoria Theatre
The cast of 101 Dalmatians the Musical, led by Kym Marsh as Cruella de Vil, met real-life guide dogs and puppies in training during a special charity event at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking. The event raised £2,115 for Guide Dogs UK.


Have a brilliant, stagey week and we'll see you next Sunday for another theatre news roundup! In the meantime, keep an eye out on our socials for live theatre updates.

Wednesday, 16 October 2024

Full Cast Announced for 2025 UK Tour of Bat Out of Hell The Musical


The producers of the award-winning Bat Out of Hell The Musical, which features Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf's greatest hits, have announced the full cast for the upcoming 2025 UK tour. This electrifying show, which begins performances on 6 January 2025 at the Edinburgh Playhouse, will tour across the UK until 20 September 2025, concluding in Northampton. Fans can expect a spectacular production featuring a dynamic cast, iconic rock songs, and unforgettable theatrical energy.

Joining the previously announced Glenn Adamson as Strat, Katie Tonkinson as Raven, Rob Fowler as Falco, and Sharon Sexton as Sloane, new cast members include Georgia Bradshaw as Zahara, Ryan Carter as Jagwire, Carla Bertran as Tink, Luke Street as Ledoux, and Carly Burns as Valkyrie. The full ensemble cast features a talented mix of West End and touring performers, including Leo Abad, Peter Camilleri, Joshua Dever, Reece DuncanGeorgia Holland, Georgia Iudica-Davies, Natalie Pilkington, Harriet Richardson-Cockerline, Sophie-Rose Emery, Catherine Saunders, Ethan Tanner, Craig Watson, James Wilkinson-Jones and Beth Woodcock. At certain performances, roles such as Strat, Falco, Sloane, and Ledoux will be covered by alternate actors, including Luke Street and Beth Woodcock.

Inspired by its arena tours in Australia and New Zealand, this reimagined production promises to be a high-octane experience, with a sprawling set design featuring multi-level platforms and an on-stage eight-piece rock band. The show immerses the audience in the fantastical world of Bat Out of Hell, delivering some of the most iconic rock anthems ever recorded. The musical features Jim Steinman’s legendary songs like You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth, Bat Out of Hell, I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That), and Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad. It also includes the previously unreleased song, What Part of My Body Hurts the Most.

The stage adaptation of Bat Out of Hell has wowed audiences worldwide, with successful runs in Manchester, London’s West End, and international productions in Canada, Germany, New York, Las Vegas, and beyond. It received critical acclaim and won the Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical at the Evening Standard Awards, in addition to eight nominations at the WhatsOnStage Awards, including Best New Musical.

The musical tells the story of the immortal leader Strat and his love-at-first-sight obsession with Raven, the daughter of Falco, the ruler of a dystopian city. As their passionate connection grows, the two lovers find themselves caught in a struggle that threatens to tear both of their families apart. The production brings Steinman and Meat Loaf's epic collaboration to life on stage with a thrilling mix of music, romance, and rebellion.

The creative team behind Bat Out of Hell The Musical includes book, music, and lyrics by Jim Steinman, direction by Jay Scheib, musical supervision by Michael Reed, additional choreography by Xena Gusthart, set and costume design by Jon Bausor, and lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe. The UK tour is produced by Michael Cohl, Tony Smith, and David Sonenberg, with executive producer Julian Stoneman.

Audiences across the UK will have the chance to experience the exhilarating power of Bat Out of Hell when it kicks off its tour in 2025. Don’t miss this unforgettable celebration of rock ‘n’ roll, love, and rebellion!

photo credit:

Thursday, 5 May 2022

Bat Out of Hell Returns to the West End


The producers of Jim Steinman’s Bat Out of Hell – The Musical, featuring Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf’s greatest hits, are delighted to announce the musical’s return to London in 2023. The show, which is currently touring the UK and Ireland, will play a limited season at the Peacock Theatre with performances from 17 February, ending on 1 April 2023.

Bat Out of Hell – The Musical will also have a residency at Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino from 27 September 2022.

Casting for both productions to be announced.

Bat Out of Hell – The Musical wowed critics and public alike when it played limited seasons at Manchester Opera House, London Coliseum and London’s Dominion Theatre from 2017 to 2019. The musical also ran successfully in Canada, Germany and at New York’s City Centre in 2019. The current UK and Ireland tour began performances at Manchester Opera House on 11 September 2021 and has been playing to sold out houses and great critical acclaim.

Bat Out of Hell – The Musical won the Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical at the Evening Standard Awards and was nominated for 8 WhatsOnStage Awards, including Best New Musical. Bat Out of Hell became one of the best-selling albums in history, selling over 60 million copies worldwide. 16 years later, Steinman scored again with Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell, which contained the massive hit I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That).

For the stage musical, the legendary and award-winning Jim Steinman incorporated iconic songs from the Bat Out of Hell albums, including You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night), Bat Out of Hell, I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) and Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad, as well as two previously unreleased songs, What Part of My Body Hurts the Most and Not Allowed to Love.

The electrifying rock songs of Mr Steinman propel an epic story of rebellious youth and passion as Strat, the immortal leader of The Lost, has fallen in love with Raven, the beautiful daughter of the tyrannical ruler Falco.

The UK & Ireland Tour of Bat Out of Hell - The Musical has book, music and lyrics by Jim Steinman, direction by Jay Scheib, choreography adapted by Xena Gusthart, with musical supervision and additional arrangements by Michael Reed, set and costume design by Jon Bausor, original costume designs by Meentje Nielsen, original wig designs by Linda McKnight, video design by Finn Ross, lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe, sound design by Gareth Owen, orchestration by Steve Sidwell, original casting by David Grindrod CDG and UK Tour casting by Anne Vosser.

Bat Out of Hell – The Musical is produced by David Sonenberg, Michael Cohl & Tony Smith, with executive producer Julian Stoneman.

This tour is dedicated to the memory of Jim Steinman, who sadly passed away on 19 April 2021, and Meat Loaf, who passed away on 20 January 2022.

Twitter, Facebook & Instagram: @BatTheMusical

photo credit: Chris Davis Studio

Thursday, 16 September 2021

Bat Out of Hell (Tour), Manchester Opera House | Review



Bat Out of Hell (UK Tour) 
Manchester Opera House
Reviewed on Saturday 11th September by Hope Priddle
★★★★★

Hitting the highway until late 2022, after several staggering runs in Toronto, New York and London, Bat Out Of Hell returned to its proverbial Manchester home this weekend. A stunning realisation of Jim Steinman’s life’s work and Meat Loaf’s iconic trilogy, the rock-opera is set in the dystopian city of Obsidian, a wasteland governed by the despotic Falco in the wake of a chemical war. Falco embarks upon a campaign to rebuild his metropole, which has since been overrun by a gang of feral, mutated youths – The Lost - frozen forever at the age of eighteen. As their leader Strat falls for the tyrant’s daughter Raven, an epic drama unfolds.


Bat Out Of Hell has undergone numerous changes across its various iterations; this new touring production is no exception, having been understandably shortened and scaled back. The book, which was already somewhat nonsensical, has suffered because of this. Amendments to the script, which were clearly made to clarify and accelerate the storyline, are overly literal, with clunky dialogue often betraying the visceral atavism of Steinman’s poetry. However, it’s foolish to think that anyone coming to see Bat Out Of Hell is after a refined and sophisticated narrative. Bat Out Of Hell is bursting with knowing irony and sarcasm – it has its tongue firmly situated in its cheek throughout. It’s a magical fever dream that invites you to suspend your disbelief.


Incoherency is irrelevant when you have a cast as stellar as this one - a cast who perform with such raw passion and hunger, you absolutely cannot take your eyes off them. As the black-hearted leader of The Lost and ultimate manic pixie dream boy, Glenn Adamson is mesmerising as Strat. His powerful performance of the titular song blew the roof of the Manchester Opera House. Adamson shares sizzling chemistry with Martha Kirby, our atypical teenage ingĂ©nue Raven, who perfectly captures the character’s fearless spirit and delivers flawless vocals. Rob Fowler and Sharon Sexton triumph as Raven’s parents, Falco and Sloane. While the couple are outrageously comic and camp, their failing marriage inspires genuine pathos as they reflect upon What Part of My Body Hurts the Most. Sultry and savvy, Joelle Moses embodies the role of Zahara; James Chisholm is charming as  tough yet huge-hearted Jagwire, and Killian Thomas Lefevre plays a wholly endearing Tink, the youngest member of The Lost. Whilst supporting characters Valkyrie (Kellie Gnauck) and Ledoux (Danny Whelan) demonstrate stunning vocal prowess, the loss of an all-male rendition of Objects In The Rear View Mirror during the second-act, is felt massively.  In previous productions, the number provided an emotional antidote to examples of sexually-charged masculinity and it was always refreshing to see raging machismo tempered by platonic male love.


The ensemble are electric, executing Xena Gusthart’s dynamic choreography with real attitude. They are complimented by a spectacular use of multi-media effects, including live video. Action is televised, Big-Brother style, across the auditorium, with an on-stage camera woman magnifying the drama. Given that the cast have free-reign over Jon Bausor’s multi-levelled post apocalyptic playground, this technique proves highly effective in capturing every little detail. The show is a huge assault on the senses, in the best way possible; expect a cacophony of colour, light, sound (and fire)!


If you’re after an evening like no other, exploding with hedonistic pleasure and unadulterated euphoria, head out on your Harley and get yourself a ticket…before they’re too hot to handle. 


Bat Out of Hell is currently touring the UK and Ireland


photo credit: Chris Davis Studio