13 hours Ago
Katie Tonkinson is the first to admit that the runaway hit, Bat Out of Hell isn’t what you call a traditional musical. “Oh it’s bonkers,” she laughed, “but bonkers in a really joyous way. If you’re going along expecting Shakespeare you will be disappointed but that’s not what this show is about.
It is its own unique animal.” Glenn Adamson and Katie Tonkinson in Bat Out of Hell (Picture: Chris Davis) Written by Jim Steinman and performed by Meat Loaf, Bat Out of Hell remains one of the best-selling albums of all time. But it was always Steinman’s dream for it to become a musical and in 2017 that dream was realised when the world premiere was held in Manchester.
Now the show is back with Katie playing Raven, the rebellious daughter of Falco an oppressive ruler of the city of Obsidian who falls in love with Strat, leader of The Lost. It’s Katie’s second time with the show, having previously played the character Valkyrie on an arena tour of Australia and New Zealand. “I started with the show in 2022 at the tail end of a UK run and then went to Germany before Australia and New Zealand,” she said.
“Valkyrie was a really cool part and I was also cover for Raven so I did get the chance to play her a couple of times.” Katie Tonkinson as Raven in Bat Out of Hell (Picture: Chris Davis) Katie left the show to take the lead in the musical Bonnie and Clyde which earned her rave reviews. She also starred in Lizzie, a musical based on the true story of Lizzie Borden at Hope Mill Theatre.
“I was offered the role of Raven when I was in Bonnie and Clyde,” she said. “I was really excited to be offered it; you never think someone is going to just say ‘would you like to play this part?’. I adore the music and to have the opportunity to come back was amazing.
“Having said that there was initially this little question mark. I kept wondering if I should come back and do a show I’d already done, even though it was a different part. “But in my gut I knew that Bat Out of Hell was what I wanted to do “I love the show - I don’t know why I was even thinking about it.
I love the part so it was soon a case of let’s just do it.” Katie knew she’d made the right decision during a photoshoot to announce the cast which includes Glenn Adamson as Strat, Rob Fowler as Falco and Sharon Sexton as Sloane. “It just felt right,” she said.
“I felt like I was supposed to be there and we haven’t looked back since.” Although it only premiered in 2017, Bat Out of Hell has already gained cult status and a legion of fans. Glenn Adamson and Katie Tonkinson in Bat Out of Hell (Picture: Chris Davis) “This tour is based a little more on the arena show so there is a little more of the concert feel to it,” said Katie.
“It still has that amazing energy and it’s a real in-your-face production even if some parts are slightly scaled down compared to when it first launched. “For us I suppose that puts a bit more pressure on to deliver something as mind blowing and living up to Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf but in a way it’s kind of nicer too as we are getting to the core of what the show is all about - the audience won’t be distracted by a bike blowing up into 30 pieces!” At the heart of the show are those songs - classics including I Would Do Anything For Love, Deadringer and, of course, Bat Out of Hell. “Those songs are hard,” said Katie.
“There’s nowhere to hide. You will have people who try one of them at a karaoke and they may even do a reasonable version. But try doing them all up to eight times a week - vocally it’s a real challenge and I love it.
“It’s so satisfying when you get such a great reaction from the audience. The songs are so familiar to people and some of them go along relive their youth. “The reaction you get is just brilliant; you stand on stage thinking to yourself ‘you can’t beat this’.
” Set in a time in the future, Bat Out of Hell has elements of Romeo and Juliet mixed with Peter Pan with Strat and Raven the star-crossed lovers. “Raven’s a real rebel,” said Katie. “She’s someone the teenage me would love to have been although I did have my emo phase and my black nails.
But she’s really ballsy, she’s not afraid to speak her mind and just goes for it. I’m too reserved as a normal person but it’s so satisfying living vicariously through her as a teenage rebel on stage. Katie Tonkinson in Bat Out of Hell, the Musical (Picture: Matt Crockett) “She’s this cool girl with a real edge to her.
You would want to cross her to be honest.” Katie admits that stepping out on stage every night, complete with live band, makes her feel like a rock star. “The main characters all have their own hand held microphones through the show which goes give you this rock star feel,” she laughed.
“Then the rest of the cast are all rock gods and goddesses. “Glenn has played Strat before and he’s amazing and Rob and Sharon are just intrinsically linked with the show - they have played Falco and Sloane from the very first show. “It’s magic to watch them on stage, it’s something quite special.
For me it’s amazing to be given the opportunity to make this part my own alongside them being these complete icons within the show. It’s nice to be the newbie in a way,” Bat Out of Hell, The Musical, Palace Theatre, Manchester, Monday, February 24 to Saturday, March 8. Details from www.
atgtickets.com.
