Vampires Rock

Grimsby Auditorium

AS darkness descended on Grimsby Auditorium, the vampires came out to play and, boy, did they play – and it wasn’t even Halloween!

According to Steve Steinman, the writer, producer, director and star of Vampires Rock, this is not a musical but a concert.

It’s against the backdrop of a story that we are treated to some of the greatest rock anthems as numbers by Billy Idol, Queen, AC/DC, Bon Jovi and Gun ‘N’ Roses, to name but a few, are literally belted out.

The year is 2030 and Baron Von Rockula (Steinman), who owns the Live and Let Die Club, is in search of a bride to replace his Devil Queen wife, played by Toyah Willcox.

He arranges a talent contest and his lustful eye falls upon Pandora Honeybox (Emily Clark) whom he must persuade to accept everlasting immortality among the undead – despite his wife’s protestations.

This show has it all: kitsch, humour, pyrotechnics, sexy costumes, eye-catching dancers, talented musicians and blood-sucking vampires.

Toyah plays her character with exactly the same attitude I first witnessed almost 30 years ago, delivering an energetic performance that belies her years whilst her rendition of Sweet Child O’ Mine was deservedly a crowd pleaser.

Meanwhile, Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell was equally well received and he sings with such power that it is difficult to believe he can sustain this night after night.

For me, the highlight was two duets; firstly Steinman and Clark’s rendition of Total Eclipse Of The Heart and secondly the Osborne father and daughter number Changes performed by Steinman and Toyah.

Vampires Rock is an enthusiastic, fast-paced high-energy show that is as exhausting to watch, as it must be to perform.

It’s also very loud, as rock should be, and if the music was not heard across the Humber then the cheers from the audience must have been.

Trevor Ekins