We Will Rock You

Having been happily brought up in the family home on Stone Road, Trentham, and only 500 yards from the main entrance to Trentham Gardens, I’ve watched with great interest over the years at all the new and interesting developments that have been made in what for me was the playground of my youth. Many initiatives have been successful whilst others have failed, but certainly this latest theatrical undertaking by Stage Productions will most definitely go down as one of the very most memorable and successful.

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.

The scale with which this production had been staged was, in a word, monumental! At the start of the project, an enormous Big Top had been erected at the far end of the main car park in Trentham Gardens and within it the most magnificent theatrical environment had been created - amazingly, in less than a week!

Complete with tiered seating for over 800, the centrepiece was a massive stage, futuristically designed with steps leading up to a smaller raised platform and very large digital screen at the back. Two-tier scaffolded catwalks had been erected on either side of the stage with additional monitors at the top and bottom. These cleverly combined with the main screen to display the various scenes and graphics used to enhance the stage action throughout the production.

The stage lighting installation was also on a gigantic scale with the very latest in intelligent light technology being employed. The sound system too was of the very highest quality.

As the house lights faded for the start of Act One, the legend of ‘We Will Rock You’ appeared on the main screen followed by the poignant, almost mystical voice of the late great Freddie Mercury as it echoed around the big top with the moving ‘Innuendo’. Straight after, all hell broke loose with flickering searchlights and the menacing sound of sirens and overhead helicopters as Samual Hands as Buddy, a former librarian and one of the leading Bohemian rebels, rushed onto the stage tightly clutching a video tape containing, what we would find out later was the one and only copy of the rock an’ roll archive he had ‘acquired’ and was desperate to keep. There had been a clear breach in Globalsoft Security and the new laws clearly dictated that Ga Ga kids should never be allowed to discover the true power of rock an’ roll. Equally desperate to get his hands on the stolen tape was Khashoggi, ruthlessly played by Stephen Degg. As head of Globalsoft’s police and second in command to the Killer Queen, in reality, he was her cold and brutal dogsbody, who carried out all her dirty work.

There are twenty-four of Queen’s hit singles in this skilfully written show and as the Ga Ga Kids and Teen Queens burst onto the stage in striking white space suits, it was clear that we were in for a very high level of performance throughout the whole evening as they kicked things off with a stunningly choreographed and sung performance of ‘Radio Ga Ga’.

Song over, the Teacher (Sam Lesniak) made her end-of-term announcement before the kids scattered and we first met Galileo, the central protagonist and rebellious hero of the piece, played with great style and feeling by Harry Jones. Despite the teacher’s advice and reassurances about his future, Galileo was having none of it. He had heard song lyrics in his dreams and now, desperate to make his own music in a world where anything other than that programmed by Globalsoft was illegal, he showed his frustration in a truly brilliant rendition of ‘I Want To Break Free’ supported by four of the Teen Queens attractively dressed in pink tops and skirts and wearing white boots.

Next to appear was Galileo’s fellow revolutionary Scaramouche, the young rebel goth played by Lydia Adams, who was desperately looking for ‘Somebody To Love’ in another great performance supported by the Teen Queens.

The stage suddenly became eerily red and the monitors displayed a unique yellow ’KQ’ logo with the arrival of the Killer Queen, the ruthless leader of the totalitarian regime who rules with an iron rod, flamboyantly portrayed by Ryan Nixon who, whilst giving the most incredible performance throughout the whole show, initially took the stage by storm with an amazing rendition of her title song supported by the sinister fascistic super yuppies of Globalsoft, all dressed in animal skin outfits with black wigs and boots.

Having both got into trouble with the Secret Police and arrested for singing in a world where non-computer generated music had been banned, Galileo and Scaramouche arrived on hospital beds to give a powerful rendition of ‘Under Pressure’, followed by The Killer Queen and Khashoggi leading the way with ‘A Kind of Magic’ and supported by virtually the entire ensemble in intense marching form.

The handsomely kilted Brit and main male Bohemian rebel, played by Jordan Harrison with a wonderful Scouse accent, and his female Bohemian counterpart, the sexy rock chick and high-spirited Oz (Leah Dowell) were next to arrive on stage. They gave us a very vibrant performance of ‘I Want It All’ with tremendous backing vocals before journeying down to the lower depths of Heartbreak Hotel via Tottenham Court Road Tube Station accompanied by Galileo and Scaramouche with ‘Headlong’ after which they were joined by Buddy.

I absolutely loved Leah’s magical performance of the tear-jerker ‘No One But You’ which was a highlight of the evening. In total contrast, Brit and Oz led the colourfully dressed Bohemians in 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 act to an end.

Interval over, the second act opened with the Ga Ga kids again in top vocal form with the anthem ‘One Vision’, performed in an almost military style and looking a little more sinister in their space suits and now wearing sunglasses. Song over, the eerie sirens sounded once 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.

Desperately trying to escape from the clutches of Globalsoft and clearly having grown much closer as their gentle naivety blossomed, Galileo and Scaramouche, finally declared their love for each other and in a very touching and emotional rendition of  ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’ discovered that “nothing really matters”.

In the closing scenes of the production, more of Queen’s chart-topping songs came thick and fast including ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, ‘Another One Bites The Dust’, with the police in sinister black plasticky outfits and the whole company wearing sunglasses. A more tranquil rendition of ‘These Are The Days of Our Lives’ led by Buddy came next and was superbly performed with great feeling.

The Globalsoft network was soon successfully hacked by Buddy, enabling all our hero’s music to be heard by everyone on the iPlanet and Galileo to magically get his guitar back. And in the penultimate climax to the show, the title song ‘We Will Rock You‘ had the whole audience on their feet and enthusiastically joining in with the foot stomping. The Killer Queen had been defeated, and all was now happy and joyful in a new world which was deservedly celebrated in ‘We Are The Champions’.

After rapturous applause and a long, standing ovation, the company left the stage as a message came up on the main screen asking if we would like to hear the ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’? Judging by the audience reaction, I don’t think there was any doubt! And so the tender piano introduction began as Galileo entered once more to start the most amazing and emotional performance of what is without doubt Queen’s greatest hit which eventually involved the whole company back on stage.

The careful design and operation of intelligent lighting in this production was simply outstanding thanks to the skills and diligence of Kate Shield. The sound was also of exceptional quality with a perfect balance struck between the band and onstage performers by Tom Maurice who was also responsible for the operation of the video displays.

The costumes too were perfect for the production and Minerva Costume Design must be congratulated for creating such an overall colourful and dynamic ‘look’ which suited every member of the principal cast and ensemble. Most certainly the standout principal costumes for me were those worn by Ryan Nixon as the Killer Queen.

But, as always, my final comments and probably the most important, must go to Director, Rob Stevens, Choreographer, Grace Forrester and Musical Director and Producer, Jonathan Cliffe who had realised yet another theatrical dream to bring this musical classic to the stage in the most remarkable and dazzling way. And for us, the audience, the opportunity to fully immerse ourselves into the world of Queen’s music in such an outstanding production was just sheer delight!

Again to Jonathan and his band of musicians, many congratulations for recreating the iconic sounds of Queen so brilliantly! In particular, the two guitarists, Jonathan Walters and Doug McMillan, need a special mention for the exceptional quality and harmony of their accompaniment. And to Production Manager, Sean Micklewright, Stage Manager, Stuart Cambell and a production team too large to mention by name, a huge well done! You absolutely nailed it!

Thank you so much for inviting me to see ‘We Will Rock You’ and thanks again Jonathan and Grace for making me feel so welcome and for my backstage tour during the interval. As the newly appointed Regional Representative for NODA West Midlands in Staffordshire, I’m already looking forward to reporting on all your future productions.

Chris C Bell, Regional Representative, NODA West Midlands District 3

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.