Vampires Rock

Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham on Thu 5th Dec 2013

Vampires Rock returned for its 10th anniversary tour at Nottinghams Royal Concert Hall. Over the years Vampires Rock has gone from strength to strength and established itself as a musical that can be performed in a wide range of venues from low key venues to 10,000 seat arenas, as well as being able to the headline act at music festivals.

Yes it is still the same old traditional Vampires story of vampire wants a new bride- vampire finds a new bride- vampire gives bride eternal life. However as the old saying goes it ain't what you do it is the way that you do it that counts. Surely to keep selling out venues after 10 years then they must be doing something right.

This is a musical that seems to tick all of the right boxes. Great rock music- check. Comedy- check. Cheesy feedlines into songs- Check. Sexy dancers- Check. Pyrotechnics- Check. Talented musicians- Check.

The scene is set in the Live and Let Die club in 2030. Baron von Rockula (Steve Steinman) is the Vampire in search of a new bride. He decides to hold an audition in his club and leaves his trusted sidekick Bossley the janitor (John Evans) in charge of finding a new bride. However the long suffering Bossley asks if he can enter the auditions and Baron Von Rockula makes it clear that he is not to sing at all as his singing his rubbish and he wouldn't even enter him on X-factor as he is that bad at singing.

Bossley follows his orders and holds auditions for a new bride. Pandora Rosie Box (Hayley Russell) enters the auditions and sings a 'Close To You' by The Carpenters. The rest of the undead band explains to Pandora that they are looking for a rock singer.

Vampires Rock

Pandora eventually returns and tries to impress the judges with her idea of a rock song. The undead band members decide that even though she has not quite got a grasp of rock music she will be suitable as a future bride for the evil Baron Von Rockula.

Vampires Rock injects a tongue in cheek slice of humour to the introduction of some songs, such as when Bossley attempts to explain to Pandora what a rock star is he talks to her and states "it's when you have a credit card that's got no limit, and a big black jet with a bedroom in it, where you can join the mile high club at thirty-seven thousand feet" they then launch into the song 'Rockstar'.

Eventually Baron Von Rockula weds Pandora and this is officiated by the undead vicar who pronounces them man and wife and informs the Baron that he may now "bite the bitch". After Pandora is bitten, she transforms into a rock star and is able to belt out rock anthems such as 'Poison' and 'Devil Gate Drive'.

Vampires Rock


Over the past ten years the show creator Steve Steinman has made subtle changes over the years, and this year he had altered it very slightly so that 'Thriller' was no longer included, however it was replaced with an incredible haunting version of 'The Power of Love' by Frankie Goes To Hollywood.

It is these little touches that keep the musical revitalised and worth going to see time after time. As per usual all of the big rock anthems were covered such as 'Sweet Child O'Mine', 'Total Eclipse of The Heart', 'Since You've Been Gone', 'Welcome to the Jungle', 'Hells Bells', 'Sympathy For The Devil', 'Poison', 'We Will Rock You' and the legendary rock classic 'Bat Out of Hell'.

For the encore the cast dressed in Santa costumes and performed Slade's 'Merry Christmas Everybody'.

This show is great value for money with tickets costing less than £25. Packed full of rock anthems with the occasional laugh thrown in for good measure. This is worth catching next time it comes to a city near to you.

article by: Luke Seagrave

photos by: Luke Seagrave

published: 09/12/2013 13:50



FUTURE GIGS


sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.