We Will Rock You

Downfield Musical Society brought Queen’s iconic rock musical We Will Rock You to the stage in a high-energy production directed and choreographed by Ross Lesslie, with additional choreography from Abbey Adams and musical direction by Ian Strachan.

From the opening moments, the production embraced the concert atmosphere the show demands, with strong technical support throughout. Lighting by PC Lighting created a vibrant rock arena feel, while Stuart Whyte’s visuals helped establish the futuristic world of the story. Sound from Accent Audio ensured the famous Queen soundtrack was delivered with clarity and power.

Leading the cast, Claire Wallis delivered a confident and engaging Scaramouche, combining sharp wit, strong vocals and plenty of attitude. Lorcan Dyer tackled the demanding role of Galileo with enthusiasm and commitment, creating an endearing hero for the audience to follow on his journey. Together they led the story effectively through its many twists and turns.

Jem Clark and Raymond Uphill-Wood brought plenty of energy to Oz and Brit, helping drive the Bohemian spirit that sits at the centre of the story. Gavin White was a particular audience favourite as Buddy, bringing warmth, humour and charisma to every scene he appeared in. Laura Ferrie clearly relished her role as Killer Queen, embracing the larger-than-life theatricality of the character and delivering a confident performance. Mike Mercer provided a strong foil as Khashoggi, maintaining the tension between the rebels and the all-powerful Globalsoft regime. The ensemble worked hard throughout, maintaining the production’s pace and energy across the many well-known Queen numbers. Choreography kept the stage busy and lively, particularly during the larger company scenes, helping to sustain the show’s concert-style momentum.

Musically, Ian Strachan guided the company confidently through Queen’s famously challenging score, with the audience clearly enjoying hearing classics such as Bohemian Rhapsody, Somebody to Love and We Are the Champions performed live.

We Will Rock You is a notoriously challenging show to stage, requiring strong vocals, relentless energy and a company capable of carrying some of the most recognisable songs ever written. Downfield Musical Society rose to that challenge with an entertaining and visually impressive production. Well done everyone involved.

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