Neil Macdonald finds out about the Dark Knight’s latest adventure . . . in Liverpool

BATMAN has had many incarnations over the past 70 years, including The Dark Knight, the Caped Crusader, the camp TV star, the Masked Manhunter, the World’s Greatest Detective and – most simply – Bats.

But, this year, Liverpool will host his latest and perhaps most exciting guise – as the star of Batman Live, a groundbreaking, multi-million dollar show coming to the Echo Arena for five nights in September as part of a five-year world tour.

The show will use groundbreaking technology and special effects to bring famous Gotham City locations like the Batcave and Arkham Asylum to life on a massive 60ft wide by 100ft long stage, backed by a giant video wall.

In front and around the scenery – which will rise and fall out of the stage itself – Batman will be joined by Robin as they take on a rogue’s gallery of deadly villains, including The Penguin, Poison Ivy and his nemesis, The Joker.

Given the enormous scale of the show and the iconic lead character’s history, the calibre of Batman Live’s creators shows they are leaving nothing to chance.

For starters, it has a specially- written story from the mind of DC Comics genius Geoff Johns, while superstar artist Jim Lee has designed the look of the show and its characters.

Other stand-out names include set designer Es Devlin, who has worked with Lady Gaga and Take That, and technical manager Jake Berry – the man currently masterminding U2’s world tour.

Bringing all these exciting strands together is executive producer Nick Grace, who first approached Warner Bros and DC Comics with the idea more than two years ago.

He says the show will be his biggest challenge yet – a big statement from someone who has been around the world with the touring juggernauts of Mamma Mia! and Walking With Dinosaurs.

He said: “You can’t get a bigger name than Batman, which is why we have such an ambitious show.

“This is a rock and roll tour – Batman is our rock star and we’re taking him on the road.

“This is a high-quality live show with a thrilling and original Batman story, packed with stunts, pyrotechnics, illusions and the characters we know and love.

“People go to an arena show expecting an event. We will give them that – even from the first moment the audience enters the Arena, there will be blimps flying overhead and helicopter and police noises, with Gotham City looming on a giant stage.”

He added: “Then night falls and the show begins.

“I have to stress it is not a musical, but a fast-moving spectacle with something for everyone, be they a hardcore Batman fan or a family looking for fun.

“It is really exciting for me, too. I grew up watching and reading about Batman and making my own Batcave, but now I can do that for real.

“I’m living the dream!”