Currently, Glenn Adamson is starring as Strat across the country in Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical for their 2025 UK Tour, having played the character previously a number of times including in the West End, USA and Australia. Glenn performs the Jim Steinman/Meat Loaf songs alongside a cast including Katie Tonkinson as Raven, Rob Fowler as Falco and Sharon Sexton as Sloane, with the show opening at its latest venue today at Theatre Royal Plymouth until Saturday, before heading to London’s Peacock Theatre on Wednesday 21st May and continuing around the UK, with the final date in Northampton in September. Amongst Glenn’s other work, he played Rick in Bat Boy: The Musical at The London Palladium, was part of We Will Rock You at the London Coliseum, played Theo and understudied St Jimmy in American Idiot, and, last year, he performed his debut solo concert Rock N Roll & You at The Crazy Coqs. We chatted to Glenn about starring as Strat in the UK Tour of Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical, being part of the show over the years and his time in American Idiot as Theo and understudy St Jimmy.
You are starring as Strat in the 2025 UK Tour of Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical, how do you feel reprising your role for another run and why would you recommend booking tickets?
There’s truly no show like it and I am so excited to be back. I’m enjoying it even more the second time around as I really missed the energy this show creates in its audiences. There’s such an energy from them that you can’t find at any other musical. You leave feeling 18 again and I think that is priceless.
How is it getting into character as Strat and what is he like to play?
He’s very high energy and totally wild. It requires a lot of energy and stamina, so I like to get in a lot of fuel throughout the day. Coffee and food mostly! Then I’m ready to go. He’s very inhibited and larger than life, I’m very boring in comparison.
For those that haven’t seen the show previously, can you tell us about Bat Out Of Hell – The Musical and how would you describe Strat?
Strat is essentially Peter Pan meets Iggy Pop. He’s ageless, looking for a motherly figure to guide him but with rock music running through his veins and it explodes out of him. He is looking for someone to understand him and his wild ways. Raven (played incredibly by Katie Tonkinson) is the answer to all his searching.
What is it like performing the Jim Steinman/Meat Loaf songs and do you have a favourite song in the musical?
The music of Jim is so iconic, there’s been nothing like it before and nothing like it since. It’s so theatrical and lends itself perfectly to a musical. It’s a privilege listening to it every night. My favourite – a tough question – but it has to be I’d Do Anything for Love. It’s the only song with the entire cast on stage together and I love to hear the audience’s excitement as the piano intro plays every night.
How is it working with the cast of the new tour?
The voices in this current cast are all just exquisite, I am so lucky to work with them every night.
Do you remember how you felt finding out you’d booked the role for the first time for the 2021 International Tour and was there anything that drew you to the character?
I was so shocked when I got the call. I originally auditioned for Ledoux in the show. I never expected to get Strat. In one of my final auditions, they handed me the musical score and asked me to sing Bat Out Of Hell. I did that and a few others but to my knowledge I was still auditioning for Ledoux – at most I thought they were considering me for understudy Strat. So, when I found out, my response was – ARE YOU SURE? I THINK THEY’VE GOT THIS WRONG!
What are some of your favourite highlights from performing as Strat in the West End and around the UK, USA and Australia over the years?
Australia was incredible! We played to 8000 people in Melbourne Arena on our final show and I’ve never heard a sound quite like their response at the end of the show. It’s always a highlight. The show is different everywhere it plays and I love that. The intimacy of a smaller theatre like Cardiff New Theatre is just as exciting to me as the huge arenas, the energy always changes. I love touring it.
Can you tell us about performing in Bat Boy: The Musical at The London Palladium as Rick?
That was a fever dream. The cast were so incredible. I felt so lucky to be part of it. I also got to play opposite Bat royalty Jordan Luke Gage so it was great fun. It’s such a great score and we performed on Halloween night.
What was it like being part of the Queen jukebox musical We Will Rock You at the London Coliseum in 2023 and being the standby for the role of Galileo?
Queen are one of my all-time favourite bands. When asked if I was free for the summer I jumped at the chance. I never actually got to play the role so it’s still on my bucket list but I’m hoping one day we’ll get there!
Do you have any stand-out memories from your time in the cast of Green Day’s musical American Idiot as Theo and understudy St Jimmy that you can share?
Taking that show to New Zealand was incredible. I’ve travelled to some amazing places with my job and it still blows my mind that they pay me to do this as a living. American Idiot was so wild and really felt like a gig every night. I miss that show. We need it back!
How did you find the experience performing your debut solo concert – Rock N Roll & You at The Crazy Coqs last year?
Watch this space as there’s another to be announced soon. I was terrified! The space is so intimate, and it was just myself and a piano. I was so nervous, because everyone had paid to see me and only me, you can hide in a musical (all the lights and whistles). But that was just my voice for 90 minutes, singing the songs I love. The pay off was worth the nerves though as I had the best time.
Where does your love of performing come from and how did you get into it?
I really found my tribe in musical theatre. I felt quite shy and out of place as a teenager but I was at home in my local youth theatre. Any of the friends I still have from my youth are from the theatre. It gave me the confidence and a voice to speak. I never expected to do it as a job, and neither did my parents. I think their aim was to give me some confidence but here we are.
What are some of your favourite theatre shows to watch, and which would you like to see that you haven’t done so as yet?
I love to see anything actor-muso. So, Benjamin Button is on my list at the moment. It blows my mind that people can be so multi-talented. I had to play the guitar in American Idiot and the nerves affected my fingers so much I couldn’t play when it actually came to the show. I admire them so much.
How do you like to spend your time away from your career?
Either in my garden or travelling in nature. It’s a very noisy job so I relish peace and quiet when I’ve not got a drum kit in my ear.
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