VAMPIRES are riding high in the popularity stakes at the moment – in fact there's never been a better time to get your teeth sunk into the genre whether it's a movie, TV series or musical.
Because
Vampires Rock is a musical with bite. It's been touring the country for the past couple of years and is gaining almost cult status among the bad and demonic.
And for the first time locally it had the endorsement of one of music's great legends.
1980s punk queen Toyah decided to join in the fun and the 51-year-old star soon showed she had lost none of her edge as a singer.
She appeared at select performances last year but we've had to wait until now for the Quadrophenia star to grace the intimate (some would call it snug) stage at
The Stables.
Until now frontman Steve Steinman, who originally found success as a Meat Loaf tribute act, has lorded over the proceedings. It is, after all, his show. But Toyah really is a scene stealer.
Despite coming on in the most outrageous fetish costumes and ridiculous head gear that looked like she'd raided Grace Jones' dressing-up box Toyah's appearances took the show to a new level.
The story in Vampires Rock seems to have been increasingly forgotten about over the years. It started out with the bald-headed Steinman playing Baron Von Dracula, owner of a New York nightclub, hunting for a new virgin bride to replace his ageing queen (Willcox).
But any attempt to stick to a script has been forgotten. Instead we're given a kitsch, fun, bloodthirsty ride through rock fantasy.
The backing singers wear skimpy basques and stockings and writhe around in cages, causing many a man in the audience to leer lasciviously, while the women get to ogle The Lost Boys, a group of incredibly talented musicians who give guts to the whole performance.
The play-list reads like a "Best of" stadium rock album and by the end of the night everyone was on their feet to Bat Out Of Hell.
It's a gothic pantomime for adults and we love it.
Catch up with the tour at the Royal & Derngate, Northampton on October 30 (box office 01604 624811 or www.royalandderngate.co.uk) or Dunstable's Grove Theatre in January 21 (box office 01582 602080 or online www.grovetheatre.co.uk).