Bat Out of Hell at The Grand Theatre & Opera House Leeds Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW]

Reviewed by Claire Giles

The show literally started with a bang and kept going that way. It was fun, exciting, full of non-stop musical performances and very rock n roll.

The award-winning hit musical Bat Out of Hell has returned to Leeds Grand Theatre by popular demand. Based on the book, music and lyrics of Jim Steinman and featuring iconic Meatloaf songs.

We watched the show at The Grand Theatre & Opera House in Leeds. The Grand is based in Leeds City Centre so is easily accessible by car or public transport. There is plenty of payable car parking nearby. The staff were all very friendly and helpful.

Set in a dystopian post-apocalyptic city called Obsidian the story is loosely based on Peter Pan. A gang of rebellious outsiders called The Lost live in the tunnels under the city causing mischief and mayhem. The Lost don’t age and are forever eighteen. Their leader Strat is the epitome of rock n roll. The city is led by the tyrannical Falco who lives in a skyscraper Falco Towers above the ground with his unhappy wife Sloane and daughter Raven who has been secluded from the world by her parents, particularly her father who still sees her as his little girl. Raven is on the brink of turning 18 and wants to get out of her protective bubble, venture into the city and meet The Lost, particularly Strata who she is in love with. Falco is determined to stop this at all costs.

The storyline can be weak at times but as the story is set around the songs this can be forgiven. The main storyline is the love story between Raven and Strat, but there is also a parallel love story of Falco and Sloane. Sloane is unhappy in her marriage and feels trapped and melancholy for her youth. She wants her daughter to go out in the world, find romance and not have regrets like herself against her husband’s wishes. Harriet Richardson-Cockerline was exceptionally good as Sloane. She brought some humour to the production yet showed real depth in her interactions with Rob Fowler as Falco. Some of the best parts of the show were Falco and Sloane’s duets, especially ‘Paradise By the Dashboard Light’ which was simply hilarious.

All the cast were amazing singers, dancers and actors but Luke Street as Strat had the most amazing voice and didn’t just sing the songs he performed them. Luke’s performance of ‘Bat Out of Hell’ at the end of Act one was simply spectacular. All the iconic Meatloaf songs were performed such as ‘Dead Ringer for Love’, I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)’, ‘Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through’ and many more.

I have never seen a show before that has an on stage videographer filming throughout the show so that the action onstage is shown on multi-levels. Screens high up on the stage showed what the videographer was recording so that you can watch The Lost in the deep of the tunnels whilst also watching Raven in her room at Falco towers at the same time. This allowed for quick transitions between the two. This was slightly distracting at first and took a while to get used to but actually added depth to the production allowing you to get up close and personal with the characters.

After a slow start which allowed the storyline to develop the tempo picked up and it was non-stop action from then on. The songs and their lyrics were cleverly used to tell the story. On the stage there was a live eight piece band which really brought the musical numbers to life and gave them a real edge. The show is raunchy and rude in places but this fits with the story and there is an age guidance of 12+ for this performance. The show ended on a high with a standing ovation and I will be singing Meatloaf songs for days!

Rating: 4.5/5

Tickets cost from £31-£59
Bat Out of Hell is at The Grand Theatre & Opera House Leeds from Monday 21 – Saturday 26 April 2025
For more information or to book tickets visit www.leedsheritagetheatres.com or call the box office on 0113 243 0808

The Grand Theatre & Opera House, 46 Briggate, Leeds, LS1 6NU