THE Theatre Royal Plymouth is gearing up for Bat Out of Hell – The Musical featuring Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf’s greatest hits which will be performed from July 12-23.

Glenn Adamson (American Idiot) will return as Strat, Martha Kirby (Grease, Rags the Musical) as Raven and the original leading cast members Rob Fowler (Mamma Mia!, Bat Out of Hell) as Falco and Sharon Sexton (Mamma Mia!, Bat Out of Hell) as Sloane, plus Killian Thomas Lefevre as Tink, Joelle Moses as Zahara, James Chisholm as Jagwire, Kellie Gnauck as Valkyrie, and Danny Whelan as Ledoux.

Bat Out of Hell became one of the best-selling albums in history, selling over 50 million copies worldwide.

Sixteen years later, Steinman scored again with Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell, which contained the massive hit I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That).

For the stage musical, the legendary and award-winning Steinman incorporated iconic songs from the Bat Out of Hell albums, including 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, as well as two previously unreleased songs, What Part of My Body Hurts the Most and Not Allowed to Love.

The electrifying rock songs 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.

Here stars of the show Glenn Adamson and Martha Kirby answer some quick fire questions:

What is your dream role?

Martha: This one! Playing Raven in Bat Out of Hell is literally my dream role.

Glenn: And for me it’s playing Strat in the show. The parts really are a gift for us both. See? Dreams DO come true!

How do you enjoy touring - is living out of a suitcase driving you crackers yet?

Martha: There are highs and lows, so you have to put work into your self-care. Getting to explore all these different places is a real bonus though.

Glenn: You get used to it, and Martha is right; it is a really good way to see parts of the country you might not see otherwise.

What’s your favourite number from the show?

Martha: Easy! What Part of My Body Hurts the Most. Everyone has a favourite and you can always hear the audience responding to different songs.

Glenn: I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That). But if you haven’t seen the show, come and discover your own favourite!

Can I bring my teenager and my Granny?

Martha: Yes! Everyone has a great time.

Glenn: A lot of older people come and say they felt 18 again because they grew up with the album. But it really is a show that works for all ages. Well, everyone over the age of 13.

Written originally as a musical by Jim Steinman but taking off as a hit album sung by Meat Loaf, sadly both of these gentlemen have died recently. What impact has their loss had on the show?

Martha: The show has always paid tribute to both Meat and Jim’s incredible work. It truly stands the test of time. It is now our place to continue sharing their legacy and greatness. 

Glenn: Meat and Steinman’s amazing friendship and musical collaboration is memorialised by this musical. It was always Jim’s dream for his theatrical music to be in a musical. We feel an incredible pressure to do his legacy and music justice in our performances night after night.

What is the one word you would use to describe the show?

Martha: Exciting!

Glenn: Party!