The smash hit musical We Will Rock You is returning to our shores. The Australian tour begins in Sydney and arrives at Crown Theatre Perth in November 2016.
The plot for the musical is centred around of a group of futurist Bohemians who battle to bring back the exchange of free thought. Citizens in this new world can no longer make their own fashion or music choices, and the world exists of clones who think and act as they are dictated. Musical instruments and composers are forbidden, and rock music is prohibited. Can the wayward rebels change the course of history?
We Will Rock You stars Gareth Keegan (Jersey Boys) as Galileo, Erin Clare (Heathers, The Phantom of the Opera) as Scaramouche, Thern Reynolds (Rock of Ages, South Pacific) as Brit, Jaz Flowers (Hairspray, Hot Shoe Shuffle, Fame) as Oz, and Simon Russell (ABC TV’s Jack Irish, Neighbours) as Khashoggi. Brian Mannix, formerly the lead singer of 1980s band Uncanny X-Men, will return to the musical stage as Buddy, and Killer Queen will be played by former Australian Idol, Casey Donovan (The Sapphires, Rent).
Since 2002 over 15 million theatregoers in 17 countries have been thrilled by this rock musical production which is based on the songs of Queen with a book by Perth’s adopted son, Ben Elton (The Young Ones, Blackadder, Popcorn).
Elton fashioned this hilarious futurist comedy around more than 24 of Queen’s biggest hit songs including We Are The Champions, Radio Ga Ga, I Want To Break Free, Somebody To Love, Killer Queen, Don’t Stop Me Now, Under Pressure, Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites The Dust and of course, We Will Rock You.
We Will Rock You reflects the scale and spectacle that marked Queen’s live performances and earned the band its pinnacle position in rock history. With Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor as music supervisors and “a band without parallel in the theatre” behind the cast, the audience can expect to rock.
Director Ben Elton claims he has assembled a powerhouse cast of Australian talent.
“Australian musical theatre is famous world-wide for the excellence of the artists it produces,” he said. “WE WILL ROCK YOU has featured Australians in productions as far apart as Toronto, London and Berlin. Check a musical cast list on Broadway or in the West End and the chances are you’ll spot an Aussie. Brian, Roger and I know that the new all-Australian cast is second to none.”
The original Australian tour of We Will Rock You opened at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre on 7 August, 2003 with a record advance, and Brian May and Roger Taylor in attendance. Australia was the first country outside the UK to produce a local version of the mega-hit musical, and the production dominated the 2004 Helpmann Awards, receiving five Helpmann Awards.
Get ready Perth to do the fandango. Keep an eye on Ticketek for dates and times.
