We Will Rock You

I was excited to visit Swansea to see this production as i had not seen the show performed before, so it was interesting to see how Swansea would interpret it. You entered the theatre to an open stage with Rostra, and it was lovely to see the band on stage centre. I must compliment Danni Gravell on the band; they played with aplomb, and it was lovely that they then became Galileo’s band for the finale and received their own standing ovation following the Outro. It was lovely to see so many people stay to hear them play until the final note.  Once we settled in our seats, we saw a projection explaining that the setting is a dystopian future where all live music is banned and no musical instruments are allowed. During the prologue, we saw some cast members with different items, being taken from them by these figures in a black cloak and mask. This sets the mood for the dystopian setting. Then we headed straight into ‘Radio Gaga’ which was a visual feast, with the ensemble all clad in purple translucent suits and light visors, which were used effectively throughout the show. 

We were then introduced to the catalyst of the show – Galileo Figaro – played by Christian Grace. Christian brought a new energy to the role, and I could see that his interpretation of this character was neurodivergent. This was a brave undertaking, and I believe he pulled this off well. We were then introduced to Commander Khashoggi – played by a mischievous and dastardly Dale Gravell. Even though this character is commanding, Dale managed to find some comedic moments which humanized the role. His relationship with The Killer Queen played by Leah Collett was great, you could tell they respected each other and trusted each other. 

Following this we were introduced to a sassy Scaramouche – played by Ffion Wilson. Ffion played this exceptionally well; she managed to capture the humour, the sassiness and the emotional vulnerability that is needed in this role. ‘Somebody to love’ was a particular highlight of mine, and I enjoyed the little riffs she added to the song. As previously mentioned, Killer Queen was played by Leah Collett, who brought the Diva and cunningness to the role. Her solos were exceptionally sung, and a highlight of mine was ‘Another one bites the dust’. Very well done. Other characters that we were introduced to were Brit and Meat – played by Joseph Robinson and Ally Demicoli respectively. These two brought the comedy, and a particularly memorable moment for me was when Joseph was trying to move quietly on the floor and proceeded to be a scene stealer. ‘Headlong’ was one of the most enjoyable numbers in the show, and I liked how they interpreted the elevator. 

We were then introduced to Pop and the bohemians. Pop was played by Simon John, and he really dived into the role. He brought comedy and heart to the scenes he was in. I enjoyed ally’s interpretation of the ‘Good Die Young’ and Simon's rendition of ‘Those were the days of our lives’. An honorable mention must go to the GAGA Girls and Kian Hall, who all danced exceptionally well. I particularly enjoyed the use of contemporary in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. The ensemble all brought their own characters to the stage and worked exceptionally well as a unit. It was lovely to see so many of them and bravo to them for their hard work. The lighting was effective and created the right ambience for the scenes and worked well with sound. The use of minimal props and set was great as it did not distract you from the characters and story. 

Thank you SAOS for your lovely welcome and it was a great first introduction to We Will Rock You. All in all, a fabulous all-round production. Congratulations must go to Ashley, Danni and Sarah for a great production. I look forward to returning next year for Sweeney Todd. 

The views in this report are solely of the author.

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