We Will Rock You

As a NODA District Representative, it was my third visit to the de Ferrers Academy to see Burton Musical Theatre Company in performance following ‘Made In Dagenham’ and ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ last year and such was the sheer quality and professionalism of those two productions, I couldn’t wait to take my seat for their latest epic, ‘We Will Rock You’. And rocked we certainly were!

With music and lyrics by Queen, story and script by Ben Elton and original vocal score by Brian May, Roger Taylor and Mike Dixon, ‘We Will Rock You’ originally opened in London’s West End in 2002 and went on to become the longest running musical at The Dominion Theatre until the original production finally closed in 2014.

Set in a globalised future where the earth has been renamed the iPlanet, live music has been outlawed and musical instruments have become museum pieces and a remnant of the past. Desperate to break free of conformity, a renegade handful of rock rebels, the Bohemians, led by two young revolutionaries, Galileo Figaro and Scaramouche, embark on a quest to overthrow the all-powerful Globalsoft Corporation headed by the manipulative antagonist Killer Queen and her mighty army. They fight for freedom, individuality and the rebirth of a new world where rock and roll music and the unstoppable power of live performance can freely thrive again.

Having arrived early, there was time to relax and admire the futuristic set that had been skilfully created from scratch by the BMTC team. Simple but very effective, there was an upper catwalk with steps leading down to the main stage area on either side of a large digital monitor in the centre. At the back of each level there was a series of clear lighting panels which changed colour throughout the stage action to match and enhance the mood of the scene and music. An eight-piece orchestra were already in place at the front of the stage and were warming up ready for the start of the show.

As the house lights faded for the start of Act One, the legend of ‘We Will Rock You’ scrolled on the digital monitor before the poignant, almost mystical voice of the late great Freddie Mercury echoed around the auditorium in the moving ‘Innuendo’. An atmospheric scene setter followed with flickering searchlights and the menacing sound of sirens and overhead helicopters, as Rae Edwards in the role of Buddy, a wise and experienced member of the Bohemian rebellion, rushed onto the stage tightly clutching a video tape containing the one and only copy of the rock an’ roll archive which she had ‘acquired’ and was desperate to keep. In total panic and equally desperate to retrieve the stolen tape, was the ruthless and calculating right hand man to the Killer Queen, Khashoggi, played with real style by Zac Lewis. Security had been breached and there was a very strict law that Ga Ga kids should never be allowed to discover the true power of rock an’ roll. And so the scene was set and the story began.

There can’t be many of Queen’s countless chart-toppers that aren’t well known and the BMTC principal characters and ensemble were faultless in their delivery and performance of every one of the twenty-four hit singles incorporated in this production. And from the massed ranks of the Ga Ga Kids and Teen Queens who took the house by storm with the most amazing synchronised and choreographed marching rendition of ‘Radio Ga Ga’, the bar was set for an exceptionally high level of performance we would enjoy for the rest of the evening.

Desperate to make his own music in a world where anything other than that programmed by Globalsoft was illegal, Galileo, the passionate and rebellious hero of the piece, portrayed with tremendous style and feeling by Jay Beaumont-Mills, vented his frustration in an outstanding rendition of ‘I Want To Break Free’. Fellow revolutionary Scaramouche, the young rebel goth, played to perfection by Dani Harris was next to appear, desperately looking for ‘Somebody To Love’ in another fine performance supported by the Teen Queens, all clad in futuristic silver dresses.

It wasn’t long before the mood on stage swiftly changed as an electronic voice announced the arrival of the Killer Queen, the confident and ruthless leader of the totalitarian regime, majestically played with just a touch of evil by Lauren Brown, who took the stage by storm leading an explosive rendition of her title song supported by the sinister fascistic super yuppies of Globalsoft!

Chart hit after chart hit followed in which the vocals were exceptional, the harmonies formidable, the choreography spellbinding, and combined with an unbridled energy and spark from every single member of the company, the audience were left completely stunned and captivated.

‘Under Pressure’ and ‘A Kind of Magic’ came next and after exploding onto the stage, two more crazy rock rebels, the handsomely kilted Brit (Oly Wright) and the delightfully vivacious Oz (Jess Roome) provided a very powerful performance of ‘I Want It All’ before journeying down to Heartbreak Hotel accompanied by Galileo and Scaramouche with ‘Headlong’.

I don’t think there could have been a dry eye in the house after Jess’s incredible tear-jerking performance of ‘No One But You’, a song that Brian May had originally written and dedicated to both Freddie Mercury and Princess Diana. It was most certainly a highlight of the whole evening. To lighten the mood, Brit and Oz along with the Bohemians, all colourfully dressed, demonstrated just about every rock an’ roll dance move that existed in ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ before ‘The Fight’ and ‘Ogre Battle’ brought the first half to an end.

Act Two opened with the Ga Ga kids in top vocal form again with the anthem ‘One Vision’, performed in an almost military style with very exact and impressive co-ordinated arm movements. Song over, the kids scattered in panic as the eerie sirens sounded again leaving Buddy & and Oz to the mercy of Khashoggi in a rather harrowing scene in which they were initially subjected to a high voltage ‘Flash’ and then in ‘Seven Seas of Rhye’ became zombified.

Having grown much closer to each other and now on the run, Galileo and Scaramouche finally declared their love for each other and in a very moving and emotional rendition of  ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’ discovered that “nothing really matters”.

Now accelerating towards the end, more of Queen’s chart-topping songs came thick and fast including ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, ‘Another One Bites The Dust’, with the whole company wearing sunglasses, and a more tranquil ‘These Are The Days of Our Lives’, all superbly performed with the same energy and panache we had enjoyed from the company so far.

We had finally arrived with the title track of ‘We Will Rock You‘ in which the whole audience enthusiastically joined in with the foot stomping. The Globalsoft network had been successfully hacked by Buddy, enabling all our hero’s music to be heard by everyone on the iPlanet. The Killer Queen had been defeated and all was now well in a new world in which they all, as the song rightly claims, ‘We Are The Champions’.

After rapturous applause and a long-standing ovation, Galileo came to the front of the stage and asked if we would like to hear the ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’? Was there any doubt? And what an end this was to one of the very best productions I have seen for a long time.

In this day and age of fast-moving theatrical innovation, the availability of LED intelligent lighting provides a huge step forward in stage presentation but only through careful and highly detailed programming and operation can it be effective and that was more than well achieved throughout this fabulous production. The sound too was of exceptional quality with a perfect balance struck between the orchestra and onstage performers.

But, as always, my final comments, and probably the most important, must go to Directors, Sam Walker and Cat Palfreyman, together with Production Assistant, Jonny Stewart, who had the infinite skill and vision to bring this musical classic to the stage in such an outstanding way. It was faultless! To David Blackwell and his fine band of musicians for recreating the iconic sounds of Queen so brilliantly which is no mean feat! In particular, the two guitarists, Ben Glover and Jonathan Hood, need special mention for the exceptional quality and harmony of their accompaniment. I feel sure that Brian May would have been very impressed! And to Catherine Moore for the spectacular and breathtaking choreography, every step and move carefully planned and performed in some of the finest routines and sequences I’ve ever seen. As a production team, you absolutely nailed it!

Thank you so much for inviting me to see ‘We Will Rock You’. I’m already looking forward to visiting you all again for ‘The Adam’s Family’ in October.

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