We Will Rock You

Seen by over 11 million people worldwide, We Will Rock You is now in its 9th sensational year and is the biggest rock theatrical event of the century! This mega-hit phenomenon continues to raise the roof and brings audiences to their feet with rapturous standing ovations every night. Created by Queen and Ben Elton, the show includes over 24 of Queen’s classic hits, including Killer Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody, Radio Ga, Ga… and of course, We Will Rock You. One Dream, One Vision…One Smash Hit!

The original production of We Will Rock You opened on 12 May 2002 at the Dominion Theatre in London, England. Tony Vincent played the lead role of Galileo, with Hannah Jane Fox as Scaramouche, Sharon D. Clarke as Killer Queen, Nigel Planer as Pop, Nigel Clauzel as Brit and Kerry Ellis as Meat. For her performance, Clarke was nominated for “Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical or Entertainment” at the 2003 Olivier Awards.

On 17 August 2005 We Will Rock You became the longest running musical at that venue, surpassing the previous record-holder Grease. This is a notable achievement because the Dominion Theatre is one of the largest theatrical venues in West End, with a seating a capacity of 2,163 patrons. The show recently closed at the theatre, on 31 May 2014. At the 2011 Laurence Olivier Awards, the show won the Audience Award for Most Popular Show.

Notable cast replacements include Mig Ayesa, who played Galileo, taking over from Tony Vincent. Mazz Murray took over the role of Killer Queen after Sharon D. Clarke’s departure in April 2004. Murray left the production in August 2011, which made her the longest running principal cast member, although she left the production briefly in September 2010 for maternity leave. Brenda Edwards, who was an X-Factor semi-finalist in 2005, is currently performing the role of Killer Queen. On 22 September 2008 I’d Do Anything semi-finalist, Rachel Tucker, began performing in the role of Meat. She left the production on 19 September 2009. The role was then taken on by Irish born performer Louise Bowden, who had already performed in several prolific musicals including Mamma Mia!, Guys and Dolls and Mary Poppins. Bowden unexpectedly quit the production in May 2010. It was then left to Amanda Coutts to perform the role Meat. Coutts was originally Bowden’s understudy. The West End production featured a nine piece live band under the musical direction of Stuart Morley. Show timings are Monday – Friday 7.30pm with a 2.30pm matinee performances on Saturdays. An extra matinee showing takes place on the last Wednesday of each month, also at 2.30pm.

A national UK tour was launched in 2009 at the Palace Theatre, Manchester. The 2009 tour cast initially included, Alex Gaumond as Galileo, Sarah French-Ellis as Scaramouche, Brenda Edwards as Killer Queen, Georgina Hagen as Meat, Jonathan Wilkes as Khashoggi, Kevin Kennedy as Pop. Gaumond and French-Ellis returned to play their characters in the West End and were Galileo and Scaramouche.

A second UK tour launched in December 2010 at the Palace Theatre, Manchester.

On 11 March 2014 it was announced the West End production would close on 31 May 2014, shortly after its 12th Anniversary, and after 4600 performances at the Dominion Theatre.

Cast & Crew

Cast

Brit
  (26th April 2002 – 2005)
Galileo
  (26th April 2002 – 15th November 2003)
Khashoggi
  (26th April 2002 – November 2003)
Killer Queen
  (26th April 2002 – 2004)
Macca
  (26th April 2002 – 2003)
Meat
  (26th April 2002 – 2004)
Pop
  (26th April 2002 – 2004)
Scaramouche
  (26th April 2002 – 28th January 2006)
Macca
  (2003 – 2004)
Khashoggi
  (November 2003 – 2005)
Galileo
  (16th November 2003 – 2nd July 2005)
Killer Queen
  (2004 – August 2011)
Macca
  (2004 – 2005)
Meat
  (2004 – January 2006)
Pop
  (2004 – 2005)
Brit
  (2005 – September 2007)
Khashoggi
  (2005 – September 2009)
Macca
  (2005 – 2006)
Pop
  (2005 – September 2007)
Galileo
  (3rd July 2005 – September 2007)
Meat
  (January 2006 – September 2007)
Scaramouche
  (29th January 2006 – September 2007)
Rebel Leader
  (April 2006 – September 2008)
Brit
  (September 2007 – September 2008)
Galileo
  (September 2007 – September 2009)
Meat
  (September 2007 – September 2008)
Pop
  (September 2007 – September 2008)
Scaramouche
  (September 2007 – September 2009)
Brit
  (September 2008 – September 2009)
Meat
  (September 2008 – September 2009)
Pop
  (September 2008 – September 2009)
Rebel leader
  (September 2008 – September 2009)

Crew

Choreographer
Director

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Play description

We Will Rock You (often abbreviated as WWRY) is a musical based on the songs of Queen with a book by Ben Elton. The musical tells the story of a group of Bohemians who struggle to restore the free exchange of thought, fashion, and live music in a distant future where everyone dresses, thinks and acts the same. Musical instruments and composers are forbidden, and rock music is all but unknown.

Directed by Christopher Renshaw and choreographed by Arlene Phillips, the original West End production opened at the Dominion Theatre on 14 May 2002, with Tony Vincent, Hannah Jane Fox, Sharon D. Clarke and Kerry Ellis in principal roles. Although the musical was at first panned by critics, it has become an audience favourite, becoming the longest-running musical at the Dominion Theatre, celebrating its tenth anniversary on 14 May 2012. The London production closed on 31 May 2014 after a final performance in which Brian May and Roger Taylor both performed.

A number of international productions have since followed the original, and We Will Rock You has been seen in six of the world’s continents. Many productions are still active globally.

Observations

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