This is no time for Shakespeare. The police are on their way and the Bat is on the wing.”

So said The Joker, Batman’s nemesis, and he was absolutely right. Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena on the opening night of Batman Live seemed many miles from Verona, balcony scenes and hey nonny nonny.

The multi-million-pound live action realisation of a famous comic strip premiered in Manchester and opened last night for a run here, ending Sunday.

A lot of money has been spent on the show by a previously successful production team and if it takes off here and in America, where it’s pencilled in for a tour next year, that could look like a shrewd investment.

There was a big though not a capacity turnout for last night’s opener and even without the sprinkling of small kids in Batman suits you could tell it was a discerning crowd.