Bat Out of Hell: The Musical at Sadler’s Wells
Award-winning Bat Out of Hell: The Musical returns to London to enchant audiences with the ever-popular hits of Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf. Thin on narrative but rich in music, choreography and a charmingly naive devotion to rock & roll, it still manages to convince.
The plot follows Strat (Glenn Adamson), the eternally young leader of The Lost – a gang of street urchins roaming post-apocalyptic Manhattan. He falls for Raven (Katie Tonkinson), daughter of Sloane (Sharon Sexton) and the tyrannical Falco (Rob Fowler), ultimately rescuing her from her father’s clutches. But the story largely exists to serve the music: big emotional moments are handled with little to no dialogue; even an entire arc with a betrayal lasts no more than a couple of minutes and a handful of lines, leading to no relevant consequences. Falco, oddly, ends the show as a friend of The Lost. Virtually none of the themes or concepts are explored in any depth.
But that’s often the fate of jukebox musicals. Thankfully, the performance of the songs is outstanding – the saving grace of Bat Out of Hell. The singers are stupendous, pulling each hit off flawlessly and with grace. In particular, Sexton and Fowler deliver some magnificent duets, while Adamson and Tonkinson show excellent chemistry and powerful vocal range. The band, led by musical director Iestyn Griffiths at the keyboard, is similarly impressive.
Director Jay Scheib’s production is competent, with costumes by Jon Bausor that evoke an 80s dystopian punk vibe fitting the mood, though not particularly exciting. His set is more interesting, featuring a forlorn main stage that serves as the hangout of The Lost, with Raven’s bedroom set at the back. The choreography, adapted by Xena Gusthart, has strong moments of raw, rocky movement – occasionally a little too rough or random, but generally well-suited to the rebellious energy of The Lost.
Bat Out of Hell: The Musical ultimately proves a mixed blessing. Fans of Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf will revel in the music, aesthetics and choreography, easily forgiving the absence of a meaningful narrative. For less devoted viewers, however, the show may feel a little hollow – its soundscape offering only fleeting relief from the lack of dramatic substance.
Michael Higgs
Photo: Chris Davis Studio
Bat Out of Hell: The Musical is at Sadler’s Wells from 22nd May until 7th June 2025. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.
Watch the trailer for Bat Out of Hell: The Musical at Sadler’s Wells here:
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