We Will Rock You (musical)

We Will Rock You opened in the West End at the Dominion Theatre on 14 May 2002, following previews from 26 April. It was directed by Christopher Renshaw and choreographed by Arlene Phillips, with musical supervision and vocal arrangements by Mike Dixon. The production featured a nine piece live band.[5] The cast included Tony Vincent as Galileo, Hannah Jane Fox as Scaramouche, Sharon D. Clarke as Killer Queen, Nigel Planer (Ben Elton's The Young Ones co-star) 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. Notable cast replacements included Mig Ayesa and Alex Gaumond[6] as Galileo, Mazz Murray and Brenda Edwards as Killer Queen, and Rachel Tucker as Meat. In 2005 We Will Rock You became the longest running musical at the Dominion Theatre, surpassing the previous record-holder Grease.[7] The production closed on 31 May 2014, shortly after its 12th Anniversary, and after 4,600 performances at the Dominion Theatre.[8]

A UK tour was launched in 2009 at the Palace Theatre, Manchester.[9][10] The cast included Gaumond as Galileo, Sarah French-Ellis as Scaramouche, Edwards as Killer Queen, Georgina Hagen as Meat, Jonathan Wilkes as Khashoggi and Kevin Kennedy as Pop. A second UK tour launched in December 2010, also at the Palace Theatre in Manchester.[11] The show embarked on a further UK and Ireland tour, beginning at the Bromley Churchill Theatre, on 16 September 2019. After a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tour resumed performances on 7 February 2022 at the Kings Theatre in Portsmouth,[12] closing on 10 September 2022 at the Palace Theatre in Manchester.[13]

Following the UK tour, the show returned to the West End in 2023, opening at the London Coliseum on 2 June for a limited 12-week run directed by Ben Elton and choreographed by Jacob Fearey.[14] Ian McIntosh and Elena Skye resumed the roles of Galileo and Scaramouche respectively from the touring production, and Brenda Edwards continued on as Killer Queen. Also joining the cast were Lee Mead as Khashoggi, Christine Allado as Meat, and Adrian Hansel as Brit. Show writer, Ben Elton made his stage debut as the Rebel Leader (previously known as Pop).[15]

The first international production premiered at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, Australia, on 7 August 2003.[16] The cast included Michael Falzon as Galileo, Kate Hoolihan as Scaramouche, Annie Crummer as Killer Queen, and Amanda Harrison as Oz. The production closed on 4 March 2004 before touring to Perth, Brisbane and Sydney.[16][17] It then made a stop at the Shinjuku Koma Theater in Tokyo, Japan, where it ran from 27 May to 24 August 2005.[18][19] A second tour launched in 2006, performing in Tokyo and Osaka.[20][21][22]

An Australasian tour was launched at the end of 2007 in New Zealand; the cast included Ayesa as Galileo and Crummer as Killer Queen.[23] The tour performed in Auckland at The Civic, The Edge (26 October to 2 December 2007), in Seoul, South Korea, at the Seongnam Arts Centre (2 to 24 February 2008),[24][25] in Singapore at the Esplanade Theatre (28 March to 27 April 2008),[26] in Hong Kong at The Lyric Theatre of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (16 May to 22 June 2008)[27] and in Bangkok, Thailand, at the Muangthai Ratchadalai Theatre (12 to 27 July 2008).[28]

A new tour of Australia commenced in Sydney on 30 April 2016, before touring to Brisbane and Melbourne.[29][30][31] Another production was scheduald for 2023-2024, It was supposed to have over 500 cast members including: Courtney Act as Killer Queen and Peter Rowsthorn as Buddy.,[32] In October 2022 it was announced that the tour was cancelled because of legal reasons.

A Spanish-language production ran from 1 October 2003 (opening officially on 3 November) to 30 May 2004 at Teatro Calderón, Madrid, with Momo Cortés and Miquel Fernández as Galileo.[33] The songs "We Will Rock You", "We Are the Champions" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" retained their English lyrics. After closing at Teatro Calderón, the show toured around Spain. In 2007 the production returned to Teatro Calderón with previews from 23 January and an official opening on 12 February. Daniel Diges and Julián Fontalvo shared the role of Galileo. The production closed on 6 January 2008.[34]

A new production began previews on 9 October 2021 at the Gran Teatro Príncipe Pío in Madrid, and officially opened on 24 November.[35]

On 15 October 2013, a North American tour began at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland.[36] The cast included Brian Justin Crum as Galileo, Ruby Lewis as Scaramouche, PJ Griffith as Khashoggi, Jacqueline Arnold as Killer Queen, Jared Zirilli as Britney, Ryan Knowles as Buddy and Erica Peck as Oz.[37] The tour covered nearly the whole of the US, corners of Canada and a sold-out run in Mexico City at the Auditiorio Nacional. In all, the tour included 298 performances in 30 cities.

A resident production at the Paris Las Vegas hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, began previews on 4 August 2004, with an official opening on 8 September.[38] Tony Vincent, who originated the role of Galileo in London, reprised the role, which he alternated with Jason Wooten. Aspen Miller and Kacie Sheik shared the role of Scaramouche, Patti Russo was Killer Queen, and Ty Taylor was Brit.[39] The Las Vegas production "trimmed" down the book into a single act show.[40] The production closed on 27 November 2005.[41]

A second North American tour launched on 3 September 2019 at the Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and included a stop at the Madison Square Garden in New York City from 14 to 17 November 2019.[42][43]

A Russian production opened in the Estrada Theatre, Moscow on 17 October 2004. The production's dialogue and all songs but three were translated into Russian, by Evgeny Margulis of Mashina Vremeni.[44] This production closed only four months after its opening due to disagreements between the show's producers, despite fan protests to keep the show going.[44]

A German production opened in the Musical Dome, Cologne, on 12 December 2004. The spoken dialogue was in German, but the musical numbers consisted of a mix of German and English lyrics. According to Brian May, Ben Elton intended German to represent the show's "present day", and English represented the distant past.[45] The production closed in Cologne on 30 September 2008.[46] It next opened at the Apollo Theatre in Stuttgart on 13 November 2008 after previews from 7 November 2008.[47][48] The production opened in Berlin on 21 October 2010 and closed for good on 21 October 2011.

A German-language production opened in Zürich, Switzerland, on 3 December 2006 at Theatre Stadthof 11, Oerlikon using the book of the Cologne production.[49] The production starred Jessica Kessler as Scaramouche, Brigitte Oelke as Killer Queen and Rachel Fischer as Ozzy. This production closed at the end of 2007.[50] It reopened in Vienna, Austria, on 24 January 2008, at the Raimund Theatre where it ran until 13 July 2008.[51]

Another tour started in December 2012 in Basel, Switzerland, and closed in June 2013 in Essen, Germany. It restarted in September 2014 in Munich, followed by Frankfurt and Vienna.

A South African production opened at the Civic Theatre in Johannesburg on 9 May 2006.[52] It starred Francois Schreuder as Galileo, Helen Burger as Scaramouche, Vicky Sampson as Killer Queen, and Helen Goldberg as Oz.[53] The production made tour stops at the Artscape in Cape Town (from 25 July) and the Playhouse Opera in Durban (29 September to 29 October 2006) before closing.[52][54]

A Canadian production began previews on 14 March and officially opened on 10 April 2007 at the Canon Theatre, Toronto.[55][56] Yvan Pednault played Galileo.[57] Erica Peck was Scaramouche, Alana Bridgewater was Killer Queen, Suzie McNeil was Oz and Evan Buliung was Khashoggi. The production closed at the Canon Theatre on 11 May 2008[58] and reopened at the Panasonic Theatre on 16 July 2008[59] after major rewrites to trim the show. Cuts included dialogue between "Ga-Ga" and "I Want to Break Free"; "One Vision" was cut; and the Act Two song sequence was changed. In October 2008, Camilla Scott took over the role of Khashoggi, a character that had previously been portrayed as a male.[60] The production closed on 28 June 2009.[61]

The cast at Magnus Theatre performs "Radio Gaga" (2017)

Another production opened at the Magnus Theatre in Thunder Bay, Ontario, on 8 September 2017.[62][63] It played to sold-out audiences and was extended, closing on 30 September 2017.

In April 2007 a non-equity production of We Will Rock You began at the Jedlicka Performing Art Centre in Chicago.[64]

An Italian production opened on 4 December 2009 at the Allianz Teatro in Milan, Italy. All the dialogues are in Italian and almost all the songs are in English, except for "Radio Ga Ga" and "No One But You". The tour visited Milan, Bologna, Trieste and Rome.[65]

From 12 September to 18 December 2010 a production was played in Stockholm, Sweden at the venue Cirkus.[66] The production moved to Oslo, Norway on 23 January 2011 at Folketeateret.[67] It closed on 16 April 2011.

A production of the show opened on 23 April 2015 on board the new Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Anthem of the Seas.

An Icelandic production opened on 15 August 2019 at the Háskólabíó Theater in Reykjavík, Iceland. The spoken dialogue and most lyrics were translated into Icelandic by Jóhann Axel Andersen.[68] Directed by Vignir Rafn Valþórsson, with Chantelle Carey as choreographer,[69] the cast included Kristinn Óli Haraldsson as Galileo and Þórhallur Sigurðsson as Pop.

A French production opened on 28 September 2018 at the Casino de Paris in Paris, directed by Ned Grujic, with choreography by Raffaele Lucania.[70]

An international tour will start in the Philippines on 27 October 2022, with scheduled stops in South Korea, Singapore, and South Africa.[71]

A new Italian tour kicked off on 2 February 2023 at the Teatro Nazionale in Milan, starring Martha Rossi as Scaramouche, Damiano Borgi as Galileo, Natascia Fonzetti as Killer Queen, Salvo Bruno as Khashoggi, Mattia Braghero as Brit, Alessandra Ferrari as Oz and Massimiliano Colonna as Pop.[72]

Since 2006, the show has been licensed for amateur and school productions in the UK, with proceeds going to the Mercury Phoenix Trust.[73]

• Galileo: MiG Ayesa, Peter Johansson, Ricardo Afonso, Alex Gaumond, Noel Sullivan, David Leigh (U/S), Oliver Tompsett
• Scaramouche: Jenna Lee-James, Sabrina Aloueche, Lauren Samuels, Amanda Harrison (u/s), Tamara Wall (u/s), Emma Hatton (u/s)
• Killer Queen: Mazz Murray
• Khashoggi: Clive Carter, Alex McNamara
• Meat: Rachael Wooding, Rachel Tucker, Rachel John, Tamara Wall (u/s), Rebecca Trehearn (u/s)
• Pop: Jeff Shankley, Kevin Kennedy

• Galileo: Michael Falzon, Noel Sullivan
• Killer Queen: Ashley J Russell
• Khashoggi: Darren Day, Rhydian Roberts, Earl Carpenter, Jonathan Wilkes
• Brit: Leon Lopez
• Pop: Ian Reddington

The story is set exactly 300 years in the future in a vaguely Orwellian world. Earth has been renamed as the "iPlanet" (sometimes called "Planet Mall" in older productions) and is controlled by the Globalsoft Corporation ("Innuendo"). On the iPlanet, mainstream commercial conformity reigns, in which Ga Ga Kids watch the same movies, listen to computer-generated music, wear the same clothes and hold the same thoughts and opinions. Musical instruments are forbidden, and rock music is unknown ("Radio Ga Ga").

In the newest graduating class is black sheep, Galileo, who has dreams and hears strange words in his head, most of which are lyrics of songs long since lost, though he does not understand their significance. Despite his teacher's advice, Galileo refuses to conform like the rest of his classmates ("I Want to Break Free"). He is captured by Khashoggi, commander of Globalsoft's police. The teacher also reveals a second anomaly, a young, goth woman named Scaramouche who is openly mocked and derided by her peers ("Somebody to Love"). She, too is arrested by Khashoggi.

Ruling Globalsoft Corporation is Killer Queen ("Killer Queen"). She has heard of a prophecy that instruments have been hidden somewhere on the iPlanet in the "place of living rock", and a "bright star" will show the way to them. She orders Khashoggi to get to the bottom of the matter and crush the rebel Bohemians who believe in the prophecy. Killer Queen then basks in her power over the iPlanet ("Play the Game").

Galileo and Scaramouche wake up in a hospital. They realise that they are kindred spirits, feared by the rest of their society. ("Under Pressure") They flee together from the hospital. Khashoggi has blown up all the rocks on the iPlanet, but cannot find any supposed hidden instruments. Killer Queen insists that they have won, and the prophecy will not come to pass ("A Kind of Magic").

On the streets, Bohemians Britney and Oz climb out of the sewers, where they have been gathering materials to make musical instruments. Britney is a believer in the Dreamer who will fulfil the prophecy, and insists to the cynical Oz that it's the key to bringing real music back into the world ("I Want It All"). Brit and Oz hear footsteps approaching, and hide.

Galileo and Scaramouche arrive, with Galileo talking about his belief that he has a destiny. He says that he dreamt a name for the woman: "Scaramouche". Britney and Oz reveal themselves, and accuse Galileo and Scaramouche of being spies, because Galileo keeps spouting words of the "sacred text". Galileo insists that he only hears those words in his head. Britney tests him, singing the first few lines of "Bohemian Rhapsody". Galileo responds correctly with the subsequent lines, and Britney realises that he is the Dreamer of the prophecy. They bring Galileo and Scaramouche to the Heartbreak Hotel, which is located at the ruins of the Tottenham Court Road tube station, where the Bohemians have made their home ("Headlong"). Of note, the original London production is staged at the Dominion Theatre, which is located above the real Tottenham Court Road tube station.

The Bohemians explain to Galileo and Scaramouche that they take their names after singers long gone, and mourn the deaths of those who died young ("No One But You"). The group then celebrates the reason rock bands started playing music in the first place, which was for love ("Crazy Little Thing Called Love").

Khashoggi and his police suddenly arrive at the Heartbreak Hotel, where they round up the Bohemians for capture. Britney breaks free and battles the police in order to enable Galileo and Scaramouche to escape, but in the process is killed.

The Ga Ga Kids of the iPlanet move on in their regular fashion ("One Vision").

Galileo and Scaramouche have escaped the Heartbreak Hotel, and realise that back at the hospital, tracking devices were installed in their heads. They remove them, and upon realising that they are all that's left of the rebels, they confess their love for each other ("Who Wants to Live Forever").

The surviving Bohemians have been rounded up by Khashoggi to be tortured ("Flash"). When he cannot get any information from them about the prophecy, he has them brain-drained ("Seven Seas of Rhye"—interpolating "Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon").

Galileo wakes up, and tells Scaramouche that he had a dream that the Bohemians were sent to the Seven Seas of Rhye. Scaramouche agrees they have to go there, but then Galileo insists that she stay because she's a "chick", to which Scaramouche takes offence. They argue, and decide that both of them will go to the Seven Seas of Rhye, but their relationship will be purely professional.

Back at Globalsoft headquarters ("Fat Bottomed Girls") Khashoggi reports that the Bohemians are no longer a problem. Killer Queen prematurely starts to celebrate ("Don't Stop Me Now"). Khashoggi interrupts her, explaining that Galileo and Scaramouche escaped. Killer Queen declares this is the last time Khashoggi has disappointed her, and has him brain-drained ("Another One Bites the Dust").

Galileo and Scaramouche are making their way to the Seven Seas of Rhye, arguing all the way ("Hammer to Fall"). At the Seven Seas of Rhye pub in Montreux, Pop the librarian is serving drinks to the lifeless Bohemians ("These Are the Days of Our Lives"). When Galileo and Scaramouche arrive, Pop explains the full nature of the prophecy to them as inscribed by the three remaining members of the band Queen just before they were sentenced to death (Brian May, his last request being a final guitar solo, apparently delayed his execution for three and a half days). Scaramouche figures out that the bright shining star of the prophecy is rock star Freddie Mercury's statue, and that it's pointing to Wembley Stadium, the "place of living rock". After initially preparing to travel by bicycle, (opening of "Bicycle Race") Scaramouche protests that the method "isn't very cool", and so they travel there by motorcycle. ("Headlong [reprise]")

Wembley Stadium is in ruins, with no instruments to be found. Reconciling and their love for each other rekindled ("Love of My Life"), Scaramouche inspires Galileo to perform the opening of "We Will Rock You", and an electric guitar is revealed. Galileo cannot play it, but Scaramouche can ("Brighton Rock solo"). Pop hacks into Globalsoft's network so their music can be heard by everyone on the iPlanet, and Killer Queen is defeated ("Tie Your Mother Down", "We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions").

After the curtain calls ("We Will Rock You [fast version]"), the entire company performs "Bohemian Rhapsody" as an encore.

International productions of the musical feature changes in the story and song line-up in order to better reach target audiences. All the main characters retain their general personalities across productions, but the names vary depending on the production. (See characters section below.)

The dialogue contains many references to popular culture, with lyrics from numerous non-Queen songs and albums inserted into the text. These references are constantly changing and, according to writer Elton, this is to keep the show "fresh".[4] Songs that have been referenced include The Beatles' "Help!", "Strawberry Fields Forever", "Penny Lane", "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", "I Am the Walrus" and "Hello, Goodbye", Little Richard's "Tutti Fruitti" and "Long Tall Sally", the theme from The Wombles, The Goodies' "Funky Gibbon", Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run", David Bowie's "Rebel Rebel" and "Space Oddity", The Wild Ones' "Wild Thing", The Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women", Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man", ABBA's "Dancing Queen" and "Fernando", Oasis' "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?", Eminem's "The Real Slim Shady", Spice Girls' "Wannabe", Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", Black Lace's "Agadoo", The Clash's "Complete Control", Teletubbies and songs by Amy Winehouse and Michael Jackson.

May often performed with the London production on special occasions such as anniversaries[77] and Freddie Mercury's birthday.[78] At the final performance of the original production in 2014, he and Roger Taylor both performed.[2]

Hannah Jane Fox, who originated Scaramouche, was the last original principal cast member to remain with the show. She gave her final performance on 28 January 2006, four years after the musical opened at the Dominion Theatre, and the event was celebrated with May appearing on stage to perform the guitar solo during the "Bohemian Rhapsody" encore.[79]

On 5 September 2006, the London show celebrated what would have been Freddie Mercury's 60th birthday. During the song "Don't Stop Me Now", ordinarily sung by Killer Queen, the band "McFly" (who were at No. 1 with the song on the singles charts the previous week) emerged onto the stage to sing it instead.[80] Brian May and Roger Taylor joined the encore, performing Taylor's "Say It's Not True" as a duo. Ben Elton also addressed the audience on this special occasion. The following week, tickets to the London show went on sale from £19.46, Mercury's birth year.

On 14 May 2007, the London show celebrated its fifth anniversary with a special show featuring both May and Taylor playing in the final section of the show. Writer Ben Elton also made an appearance to present a special plaque to the cast, May and Taylor. During the portion of the show based in Pop's bar, the line "But the Pub Landlord has a Bike" was followed by a cameo appearance of British comedian Al Murray, who came up through the stage on a motorcycle.[81]

The London show's sixth anniversary performance was held on 21 May 2008, a week after its actual anniversary due to the unavailability of Brian May. For the first time since the show opened, the Killer Queen character performed the entire song "Don't Stop Me Now", a musical number which is normally interrupted by the Khashoggi character. This unique performance is acknowledged by Killer Queen's dialogue: "No, you didn't let me finish, you never let me finish. For six long years, night after night, week after week, year after year. Well, tonight, I'm going to finish", to which Khashoggi replied: "It's not in the script!" Killer Queen proceeded to yell, "Screw the script!" before continuing the song. Additionally, May joined Killer Queen and the dancers on stage for the performance. After the encore, Elton made a thank you speech, after which the entire cast performed "The Show Must Go On", accompanied by May on guitar.

The seventh anniversary of the London show was celebrated on Monday 18 May 2009. The show contained a special appearance from Brian May and Ben Elton who emerged together in a cloud of smoke during the encore rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody" with May playing guitar. As with the year before, Elton gave a thank you speech and the entire cast performed "The Show Must Go On", accompanied by May on guitar.

On Saturday 12 September 2009 at the early matinee performance Brian May again emerged in a cloud of smoke playing the guitar in "Bohemian Rhapsody". The reason for this appearance was not clear. He did the same again at the matinee on Saturday 14 November 2009.

On Sunday 31 January 2010 in The O2 Dublin, Brian May once again played "Bohemian Rhapsody" with the company during the finale of both the matinee and evening shows to celebrate the end of their year-long tour.

On Saturday 5 September 2010, May also appeared though a cloud of smoke, again to play "Bohemian Rhapsody". This was due to the annual cast change, as well as a celebration of what would have been Freddie Mercury's 64th birthday, and afterwards Brian gave a farewell speech to the cast who were leaving.

On Saturday 5 October 2013, May appeared through the cloud of smoke to play "Bohemian Rhapsody" once more. This was because it was cast change and some of the cast were leaving. May appeared to be very emotional when he was giving his speech.

The 20th anniversary UK tour, also directed by Ben Elton, was choreographed and staged by Jacob Fearey. This version opened at the King's Theatre with the full cast onstage for "Innuendo". The script is the same as the School Cast's version, but with fewer elements of the original. "Play the Game" is cut, and the chorus is backstage for most of the numbers. "Don't Stop Me Now" is left in its entirety, without Khashoggi interrupting Killer Queen. For the first time in the show's history, "The Show Must Go On" has been added to the production closing Act 1.[82]

In the new West End version, in Act 2, "Love of My Life" is only played as a brief instrumental. Some of the elements of the 20th anniversary tour production remain.

The cover of the original London cast album, featuring Tony Vincent.[4]

A cast recording of the original London production was released in November 2002.[85] Not all songs in the show were included in the album, the omitted tracks have been marked* in the above list. In August 2003, the London cast recording was given an Australian edition re-release, containing a bonus track of the original Australian Killer Queen, Annie Crummer, singing a studio version of "Another One Bites the Dust".

In 2004, Kerry Ellis, who was the original Meat in the London production, worked with Brian May to record an instrumental studio version of "No One But You (Only the Good Die Young)". This version is available through the official Queen website and in Ellis' limited-release CD single titled Wicked in Rock.[86][87]

A Madrid cast recording was released in 2004. The recording includes a bonus second disc containing an extended Spanish-translated studio version of "No One But You" ("Solo Por Ti") sung by the original Meat, Eva María Cortés, and video clips of the original Madrid production.

A Cologne cast recording was released in 2005. It is the only We Will Rock You cast recording to contain "Fat Bottomed Girls".

In 2012, a 10th Anniversary Edition of the London Cast Recording was issued, comprising the original cast recording album, along with a CD containing bonus material.

• Alana Bridgewater-recorded version of Fat Bottomed Girls on her debut album "Horizon".
• The 10th Anniversary album including the original 2002 album, along with a bonus CD with the following tracks:
  1. Another One Bites The Dust (2003 Remix) – Annie Crummer, Queen
  2. Sólo Por Ti (No One But You) (In Spanish) (Short Version) – Eva Maria Cortes, Queen
  3. Sin Control (Headlong) (In Spanish) – The Spanish Cast
  4. Algo Loco Es El Amor (Crazy Little Thing Called Love) (In Spanish) – The Spanish Cast
  5. Killer Queen (In German) – The German Cast
  6. Play The Game (In German) – The German Cast
  7. Bohemian Rhapsody ('Party at the Palace' Live at Buckingham Palace, 2002) – The London Cast, Queen
  8. Radio Ga Ga ["Wetten, dass..?" German TV Live Performance, 2004] – The German Cast
  9. Somebody To Love ["Wetten, dass..?" German TV Live Performance, 2004] – The German Cast, Queen
  10. We Will Rock You ["Wetten, dass..?" German TV Live Performance, 2004] – The German Cast, Queen
  11. We Are The Champions ["Wetten, dass..?" German TV Live Performance, 2004] – The German Cast, Queen