MEATLOAF'S ROCK ANTHEMS WERE MEANT | FOR THE STAGE

BAT OUT OF HELL - THE MUSICAL Theatre Royal Plymouth, ends tomorrow

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JUKEBOX musicals. They're everywhere. From Abba to Greenday, so many bands and artists’ songs are adapted for the musical theatre stage. But, did you know that Meatloaf’s Bat Out of Hell was originally written for the stage?

Jim Steinman (book, music and lyrics) is the man behind Meatloaf’s stratospheric success. “Bat out of Hell”, released in 1979, is the second best selling record of all time but it was originally written as a soundtrack for a musical Steinman was working on.

Named “Neverland”, Steinman’s musical was meant to be a loose follow up to the novel “Peter Pan”, but it was put to one side and Meatloaf just performed all the songs from the show's soundtrack at gigs and concerts instead.

So, in a sense, Bat Out of Hell is a jukebox musical... in reverse!

This isn’t the show's first meeting with Plymouth audiences. It wowed local audiences just last year and, judging by the electric audience reaction this week, the show continues to be every bit as popular as its iconic soundtrack.

The production’s strength is undoubtedly its music. Musicians play live at the top of the stage balanced on top of what looks like a large abandoned tyre belonging to The Lost Boys. I counted at least three electric pianos alongside a huge drum kit and a few electric guitars. Even if you're not familiar with Meatloaf’s songs, the energy and talent the musicians bring to the stage is simply awe inspiring. They really do Steinman’s songs justice.