Steve Steinman knows how to rock. He’s had stars in his eyes for more than thirty years after performing as Meat Loaf on the popular talent show. Steve went on to create, produce and perform in many rock musicals, including Anything For Love – The Meat Loaf Story.

And now he’s back!

Vampires Rock – Eternal Love overflows with glorious gothic grandeur. Steinman’s rockscape abounds with punchy ballads and pounding riffs.

The tongue-in-cheek essence of the show is uniquely captured by some audience participation.

Audience: He’s behind you!

Steve Steinman: This isn’t a panto!

Audience: Oh, yes it is!

Steinman and Evans are a wonderful double act with quick-fire hilarious comments and mutual jibes creating laugh out loud moments. Listen out for song titles and lyrics woven into the script – great fun.

Baron Van Rockula (Steve Steinman) has lost his true love, Pandora. He meets up with his butler, Bosley (John Evans) and they decide to bring their castle back to life. Bosley sets it up as a diner with help from the vampires which annoys Rockula. The main quest however is for Baron Rockula to find a replacement for his long-lost love, Pandora.

Bosley encounters a possible love for Rockula in the form of Xena Rock-Heart (Claire Zamore). However, the vampires are wary, especially Medusa (Tanyth Roberts).

The plot may be simple, but the music is what it’s all about here. Twenty original rock songs are performed during the show, each one adding to the unfolding story of a vampire seeking new blood with characters expressing lost love, disappointment, happiness and jealousy.

I didn’t find all the songs instantly appealing but there were a few standouts for me, notably Tanyth Roberts’ performance of Northern Star and Steinman’s I Will Wear You Like A Crown.

There’s a wonderful duet of the two performing the catchy ‘There’s Something of the Night About You’ and during the finale there is a reprise of the foot-tapping Hellfire.

Throughout the performance the dancing by the lady vampires was superb, much praise for Olivia Doherty-Marks, Victoria Farley and Amy Jackson – such energy. The band were wonderful and a nod to the sound, staging and lighting crews for a truly magnificent job. Overall, if you love rock with more than a touch of theatre, you will love Vampires Rock – Eternal Love.

What a cast – what a show!

Vampires Rock – Eternal Love is showing at Darlington Hippodrome until Saturday 26th April